By NNN-PTI,
Varanasi, India : The first two batches of Haj pilgrims from Varanasi, comprising some 400 people, left for Jeddah on special Air India flights from Babatpur Airport here.
The pilgrims boarded four special flights which took off on Thursday and Friday, airport director S K Siddh said.
About 5,500 people from Purvanchal have registered for the annual pilgrimage this year, of which 800 are from the Varanasi district itself.
He said two flights daily from Babatpur Airport will carry Haj pilgrims till November 15. The number of flights will be reduced to one from November 16 onwards.
The district administration has made arrangements for lodging facilities for the pilgrims at the Gautam Buddha Trade Centre at Chowkaghat.