Haj 2013 Ends, Last Flight Arrives

With the arrival of the 25th and the last Haj flight at the Haj Terminal of the G M R Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad, the Haj 2013 season came to a conclusion on Saturday.

Prof. S A Shukoor (Special Officer of State, Haj Committee) and Abdul Hameed (executive officer), along with the staff of the Haj Committee, received the pilgrims at the terminal.

As many as 7,784 pilgrims, including 986 pilgrims from Karnataka, left for Haj from the Hyderabad embarkation point, for Haj 2013, via 25 chartered Haj flights.

All the flights were reported to be on time, in both the directions.

Out of all the pilgrims who left to Haj from Hyderabad, 7 pilgrims passed away in Saudi Arabia, while 7 pilgrims returned due to other "personal" reasons, earlier than scheduled.

Haj pilgrims from 21 districts of the state, a total of 6,798, went on pilgrimage from the Hyderabad embarkation point, while 658, belonging to Anantapur and Chittoor districts, left from the Bengaluru embarkation point - reaching a total of 7,456.

The Haj Committee made arrangements for providing food and accommodation to out-station pilgrims after their arrival in Hyderabad. Also, tea was served to all pilgrims at the terminal.

Minorities Welfare minister Mohammed Ahmadullah, Commissioner Minorities Welfare Shaik Mohammed Iqbal and other staff thanked the officials and staff of the GMR, CISF, BCAS, Customs, Immigration, Police, APSRTC, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Menzes, Princess Esra Hospital and the State Haj Committee, for their cooperation in the arrival of the Haj pilgrims. (INN)