Haj 2013 season ends as last flight arrives in city

Hyderabad, Nov 16 : With the arrival of 25th and the last Haj Flight at the Haj Terminal of the GMR Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad, the Haj 2013 season came to a conclusion on Saturday.

Special Officer State Haj Committee Prof. S A Shukoor and Executive Officer Abdul Hameed 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 State left for Haj from Hyderabad Embarkation point for Haj 2013, by 25 Chartered Haj Flights. All the flights were in time in both the directions. Out of the total pilgrims who left from Hyderabad seven pilgrims passed away in Saudi Arabia, while seven pilgrims returned back on personal grounds earlier than the scheduled arrival.

Haj pilgrims from 21 districts of the State, numbering 6798 went on pilgrimage from Hyderabad Embarkation Point while 658, belonging to Anantapur and Chittoor districts, left from Bengaluru Embarkation Point, totaling 7456.

The Haj Committee made arrangements for providing food and accommodation to the pilgrims belonging to the districts after their arrival at Hyderabad. Tea was served to all the pilgrims at the Terminal.

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