First group of Hajj pilgrims to leave Wednesday
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Kochi: Marking the beginning of Hajj trips, the first flight carrying 340 Hajj pilgrims will take off from the Cochin International Airport Limited here on Tuesday.
Chief minister Oommen Chandy will flag off the flight at 1.45 pm.
The Haj camp, opened at the CIAL hangar, was inaugurated by Panakkad Syed Hyder Ali Shihab Thangal, President, Indian Union Muslim League, at a function held here at 8 a.m.
About 6,302 pilgrims from Kerala, 48 from Mahe and 280 from Lakshadweep will perform Haj through the Kerala State Hajj Committee this year. National carrier Air India will be operating one flight each at 1.45 p.m everyday till September 17, in addition to three flights at 5 p.m on September 7, 8, and 9.
Hajis are directed to report at the camp a day ahead of leaving for Jeddah.
The embarkation point for Hajis from the State was shifted to Nedumbassery from Karipur following the closure of runway at Karipur airport for repairs. The Haj committee will be sending one volunteer in each flight.
