Haj Committee Gears Up For Pilgrims From May 4

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Haj Committee is gearing up for arrangements for pilgrims embarking from RGIA from May 4. A total of 9,660 pilgrims — including 6,660 from Telangana and 2,283 from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka — will fly from Hyderabad to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Pilgrims from other states include Maharashtra (553), Andaman & Nicobar (1), Assam (1), Bihar (26), Chhattisgarh (42), Jharkhand (2), Madhya Pradesh (4), Odisha (96), Tamil Nadu (2), Uttar Pradesh (3), and West Bengal (15). For Telangana, 11,557 online applications were received, with about 2,500 on the waiting list. “6,660 is not the final figure, as the number may go up with scores on the waiting list,” Telangana Haj Committee chairman Syed Ghulam Afzal Biabani told Deccan Chronicle. This year, the Haj Committee has introduced a short package of 25–30 days. Pilgrims will stay in Mecca for 20–25 days and in Madina for 4–5 days. Flights for this package will operate between May 19 and May 21, with return journeys from Madina to Hyderabad between June 13 and June 18. Following completion of the tender process for facilities, the committee accelerated arrangements from Saturday. Sub‑committees have been constituted to oversee food, transport, and accommodation. “We have constituted sub‑committees for providing better services to Hajis,” Afzal Biabani said. Officials said the committee is in regular communication with the Central Haj Committee in Mumbai for updates on the evolving West Asia crisis. “The issue of war was discussed with the CEO, Haj Committee of India, Mumbai. The official informed us that as of now, there are ‘no issues’,” they said. During their stay and departure at Haj House, pilgrims will be provided transit accommodation, flight booking, and boarding passes. Other services include smart watches, baggage screening, luggage check‑in, medical care and vaccination, safety and security arrangements, transport from Haj House to RGIA, and customs clearance on arrival. “The State Haj Committee will also open a 24/7 control room in its office,” officials added.



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