By IANS
Kozhikode : The first of the chartered Air India flights, carrying 215 Haj pilgrims from Kerala to Saudi Arabia, left here Wednesday.
All arrangements for the pilgrims were made by the State Haj Committee, a set-up constituted by the state government. It will operate a total of 31 flights.
“This year, the State Haj Committee has the sanction to take 8,249 people for the pilgrimage. The flights will continue till December 6,” said Prof A.K.Abdul Hameed, chairman of the State Haj Committee.
The committee will also make arrangements for the stay of the Haj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
“The pilgrimage will continue for about 40 days. The return flights will start on January 4 and all the pilgrims will be brought back by January 18,” said Hameed.
Those going on the pilgrimage through the Haj Committee are eligible for a government subsidy on flight tickets.
“The charges on these chartered flights will be only Rs. 12,000. If you go on your own, this will cost around Rs. 45,000,” he said.
Around 20,000 people from Kerala, including those taking the chartered flights, are expected to travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj this year.
Kerala’s Minister for Local Administration Paloli Muhammedkutti flagged off the first Haj flight at the Karipur Airport.