Did J&K L-G Just Flag Off the First Batch of Hajj Pilgrims from Srinagar Airport?

Srinagar, May 4 (NationPress) On Sunday, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, inaugurated the departure of the inaugural group of Hajj pilgrims from Srinagar International Airport to Saudi Arabia, extending his wishes for a safe and meaningful pilgrimage.

Present at the airport was Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

The Lieutenant Governor took the time to engage with the pilgrims, offering his heartfelt greetings and best wishes for their journey, hoping for a spiritually enriching experience.

Manoj Sinha also acknowledged the collective efforts of all stakeholders that contributed to the successful organization of this sacred pilgrimage.

During his interactions, CM Omar Abdullah encouraged pilgrims to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation during their Hajj.

This year, approximately 3,622 pilgrims from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are slated to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage.

Srinagar International Airport is scheduled to facilitate 11 flights from May 4 to May 15, accommodating around 3,132 Hajj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir and 242 from the Union Territory of Ladakh.

The pilgrims will be welcomed by the Consulate General of India, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, upon their arrival in Jeddah.

Officials present included CM Omar Abdullah, Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, Divisional Commissioner Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, IGP Kashmir Vidhi Kumar Birdi, and Deputy Commissioner Akshay Labroo, alongside members of the J&K Haj Committee and senior officials from the Airport Authority, Civil, and Police administration.

Earlier that morning, the first group of Hajj pilgrims departed from the Hajj House en route to the Srinagar International Airport to board their special flight to Saudi Arabia.

The initial batch comprised 178 pilgrims, including 96 men and 82 women, who arrived at the Hajj House in the Bemina locality of Srinagar.

Pilgrims were instructed to arrive at the Hajj House between 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. for final preparations and transfer to the airport.

Authorities arranged special buses to transport the pilgrims, though no family members or friends were permitted to accompany them to the airport.

Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, CEO of the J&K Hajj Committee, confirmed that the first flight taking pilgrims will depart from Srinagar International Airport. Senior officials, including Divisional Commissioner V.K. Bidhuri, visited the Hajj House the day prior to ensure all final arrangements were in place for the pilgrims.

All pilgrims from the union territory, comprising individuals from the Jammu division as well, must check in at the Hajj House in Srinagar for their onward journey to Saudi Arabia.

Emotional farewells were a common sight at the Hajj House, where families bid goodbye to loved ones embarking on the pilgrimage. The atmosphere was a blend of joy and sadness, as relatives expressed happiness for their family members while also feeling the pangs of separation, given that the round-trip journey typically spans over a month.

Interestingly, unlike previous years where lotteries determined who could participate, the past three years have seen fewer applicants than available seats, making the pilgrimage more accessible for those who wish to undertake it.