Hajis leave for Mecca

HYDERABAD: The first batch of 340 pilgrims left for Haj pilgrimage on Sunday.
Deputy CM Mohammed Mehmood Ali and Haj Committee of India chairman Choudhary Mehboob Ali Kaiser flagged off the first flight for Jeddah. According to officials, Air India will operate two daily flights from August 22 to August 27 and one flight on August 28 to carry a total of 5,000 pilgrims from Telangana, AP and four districts of Karnataka.Seven flights were arranged for the pilgrims leaving from Telangana, four for AP and one flight for Karnataka. Haj House would serve as a transit and boarding point for pilgrims. Authorities have made boarding and lodging arrangements for pilgrims.
All flights from Hyderabad will leave for Jeddah. The return journey will take off from Madina. Pilgrims are scheduled to return from Madina between October 4 and October 8. Over 1.56 lakh Indians will perform Haj pilgrimage this year. According to the central Haj committee, 36,000 pilgrims will be going through private operators.