MALAPPURAM: Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed flagged off the first flight from India carrying pilgrims for this year’s Haj at the Karipur International Airport on Thursday morning. One of the 29 Saudi Airline flights deployed to carry Haj pilgrims from Karipur took off with the first batch of 300 pilgrims at 10.45 am. As many as 600 pilgrims set off for the pilgrimage in two flights from Karipur on Thursday.Flagging off the flight, the minister wished the pilgrims a smooth journey and prayed for their well-being. Earlier, Panakkad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal led a prayer meet organised at the Haj House in Karipur. The pilgrims who were allotted seats in the first flight were then brought to the airport from the Haj House for customs and emigration clearance.Pilgrims were asked to report at the Haj cell functioning at the Haj House at least 18 hours before the departure of the flight and were distributed pilgrim passes on Wednesday itself. The officials who are in charge of running the cell also distributed the visa, sealed passports and the foreign currency exchange required for the pilgrims.Elaborate arrangements were made at the airport to accommodate the pilgrims at 350 special chairs arranged at the departure terminal. The pilgrims from Kerala, Lakshadweep and Mahe will be taken for Haj from Karipur airport, which is charted as the embarkation point for these pilgrims.District Collector M C Mohandas, District Panchayat President Zuhra Mampad and Central Haj Committee member Abdusamad Pookkottur were also present at the flagg-off ceremony.
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