257 Haj pilgrims from state leave for Mecca from Kolkata | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Around 257 Haj pilgrims from Odisha boarded their flight from Kolkata airport for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca on Wednesday. Pilgrims’ relatives and officials from the state Haj committee, among others, were present at the airport see them off. Executive officer of the committee, Sayed Mohammed Aqdas, said a total of 390 pilgrims from the state left for Haj this year. He said the rest of the pilgrims from the state boarded their flights to Saudi Arabia in six groups from different cities, including Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad. Return journey of pilgrims from the state would start from July 7 onwards, the official said.Aqdas said Kolkata airport saw the departure of Odisha pilgrims second time within a week. A group comprising 28 pilgrims from the state boarded their flight to Mecca on May 20. Aqdas said the state govt ensured a smooth and hassle-free journey of all pilgrims. He said the committee, as part of its preliminary preparations, organised Haj training programmes for pilgrims at different places before their departure and inoculated them. The committee also sent three Haj inspectors with pilgrims. Besides, the govt was going to transfer a package amount to all pilgrims’ accounts, instead of providing them Haj kits, he said.
