Kerala, India: First Hajj flight leaves on 29 September

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The first Haj flight from the State will leave Calicut International Airport, Karipur, on September 29. Saudi Arabian Airlines will operate 27 flights to carry 8,100 pilgrims under government supervision from Kerala, Lakshadweep, and Mahe till October 15.Karipur is the embarkation point for the pilgrims from Kerala, Lakshadweep, and Mahe. State Haj Committee chairman P.T.A. Rahim, MLA, said the inaugural flight would take off from Karipur at 10.45 a.m. with 300 pilgrims. The pilgrims would be flown to Medina, and their return would be from Jeddah. The committee, on Tuesday, released the pilgrim manifests indicating the date of journey for the pilgrims. Mr. Rahim said the pilgrims should ensure their journey date from the Haj committee website.The State Haj camp will open at Haj House near the Karipur airport on September 25. The first batch of pilgrims should reach the camp by 4 p.m. on September 28. “The pilgrims should reach the camp at least 18 hours before the departure of the flight,” Mr. Rahim said. There will be two flights on the first day. Apart from the 10.45 a.m. flight, Saudi Arabian Airlines will operate another flight at 1.30 p.m. Mr. Rahim said that as per the deal signed with Saudi Arabian Airlines, the airline would have to pay damages for any delay beyond four hours. Last year, flight delay had caused some embarrassment for the Haj committee.As many as 30 government officials have been deputed for Haj duty at the camp. Twenty volunteers from the State will accompany the 8,000-odd pilgrims.The Haj committee, meanwhile, continued giving training to pilgrims from across the State..../129