M.K. Raghavan, MP, has urged the Centre to shift the Haj embarkation point from the Cochi International Airport to the Calicut International Airport in view of the flood situation in Ernakulam district. In a letter to Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Union Minister for Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu, he said that due to incessant rains, the roads were potholed and inundated and the Hajj pilgrims would find it difficult to reach the Kochi airport by road.
Kochi airport, the only Hajj embarkation point in Kerala, was facing floods due to its proximity to the Periyar river and the opening of the Idukki dam. Mr. Raghavan pointed out that the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation had granted permission to operate Code E wide-bodied aircraft from Calicut airport. Also, the flood waters had not reached anywhere near its renovated runway. He pointed out that the Haj House there could accommodate 3,000 pilgrims.
