By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter
This year, more than 11,500 pilgrims will leave for Mecca from Kerala through State Government’s Haj quota. The Kerala Haj Committee has begun its final preparations for this year’s Haj camp in Cochin International Airport at Nedumbasseri and the two-week long Haj camp will go functional at the airport on August 12 at 7 pm. The first flight will take off on August 13 from the Cochin International Airport.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the Haj camp on August 12 at Nedumbassery and Minister for Haj K T Jaleel will flag off the first flight at Cochin International Airport on August 13.
State Haj coordinator Shajahan N P said chances will be given to more applicants if an additional quota is allowed by the Haj Committee of India. The number of seats will be finalised by August first week.
Saudi Airlines, the national carrier of Saudi Arabia, will hold a total of 39 schedules. Three schedules will be operated by the 300 seated aircraft a day.
All arrangements will be made by State Haj Committee for pilgrims at the Haj camp at Nedumbassery. The camp has been set up at two aircraft maintenance hangars at the airport.
The Haj committee has appointed 270 trainers to guide the pilgrims during the trip and 350 volunteers to serve the pilgrims at the camp.
“Our volunteers and trainers will be available for all services,” Shajahan said.
Apart from Kerala, Nedumbassery is also the point for the pilgrims from Lakshadweep and Mahe for the third consecutive year after Calicut International Airport closed for maintenance and runway re-carpeting works.
Free sim cards will be given for pilgrims in order to ease the inconveniences and ensure better communication during the pilgrimage. About 10,000 SIM cards will be disbursed from the Haj camp at Nedumbassery. They will be activated by Haj Committee officers from Mecca after once registration is completed. Pilgrims can give their contact numbers to relatives at the airport itself.
Women pilgrims this year will get stickers with Indian flags and they will be told to stick it on their Hijabs during the trip. The new step, according to Shajahan, is initiated in order to easily identify the Indian women pilgrims for volunteers and trainers.