Madinah: The first Indian charter flight of Haj-2019 carrying 419 pilgrims arrived at Madinah Airport from Delhi at 0340 hrs on Thursday.
Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Mr Md. Noor Rahman Sheikh, Consul General in Jeddah, received the pilgrims. Mr. Y. Sabir, Consul (Haj), was also present.
The Haj-2019 season that started today will continue till September 14.
According to a press release from Indian consulate general all the pilgrims have been accommodated in Markazia (Near Prophet’s Mosque). They are all healthy and safe.
The Hajis will stay in Madinah for eight days and thereafter move to Makkah on June 12.
The Consulate General has opened an office at Madinah Airport. It will function round the clock throughout the Haj season.
For the first time, the Indian mission has introduced pre-allotment of buildings in Madinah.
The pre-allotment of accommodation has been going on for several years in Makkah. Also, for the first time, the Haj Committee of India has put tags on the baggage of pilgrims marking the hotel/building details along with the room allotted to them.
The Ambassador and Consul General visited the hotel of the Hajis to oversee their arrival.
Besides the Main Haj Office and 3 Branch Offices, one 10-bedded Dispensary and three Branch Dispensaries have been put in place in the localities where Hajis are accommodated.
Out of 1,40,000 Hajis who travel through the Haj Committee about 63,000 will arrive in Madina till July 2. Remaining about 77,000 will arrive in Jeddah from July 20 to August 5.