All arrangements are in place for Haj 2013. The first batch of pilgrims will begin arriving at Haj House here on Monday, marking the commencement of the 15-day long Haj camp.
The Haj House has been converted into a mini airport with counters for customs, immigration check, baggage screening, issue of passports, foreign exchange and boarding pass set up.
About 600 pilgrims will emplane for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday through two flights schedule to take off at 8.40 pm and 10.55 p.m. Special chartered Saudi Airline planes will carry nearly 8,000 pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh, from September 25 to October 9. The first two flights will carry pilgrims mostly belonging to Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Warangal, Mahabubnagar and Krishna districts.
This year, about 1,000 pilgrims from Karnataka districts of Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur and Yadgir will proceed from the Hyderabad embarkation point while 650 pilgrims of Chittoor and Anantapur will go from Bangalore embarkation point. In the return direction, flights will operate from October 31 to November 15 from Madina Munawarra.
Meanwhile, the Haj Committee of India has cleared applicants up to 627 in the waiting list. There are indications of the waiting list getting further cleared up to 700.
“Applicants in the waiting list should deposit their passports and be prepared to remit the money as soon as their name is cleared,” said Abdul Hameed, Executive Officer of the Haj Committee.
A fleet of 8 RTC buses is being engaged to transport pilgrims from Haj House to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad. Arrangements are being made for the boarding and lodging of 1,000 pilgrims at the Haj House. In addition to the open ground, seven floors to the 10 have been spruced up for the stay of pilgrims coming from different parts of the State.
shamiana floor of the Haj House. But now the GHMC has refused permission forcing the Haj Committee to make cooking arrangements on the ground, said. S.A. Shukoor, special officer, Haj Committee.
Authorities are apprehensive of the difficulties Haj pilgrims may face en route to Hyderabad, in the wake of the ongoing Samaikyandhra agitation. Mr. Hameed urged agitators not to stop vehicles carrying the pilgrims.
