First Batch of Hajj Pilgrims Leaves from Mangalore Airport
 
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Sep 28: The first Hajj flight carrying 220 pilgrims took off from Mangalore Airport at 11.30 am at Thursday September 28. There would be five trips till October 2 with a total of 1,035 pilgrims flying the Mecca, the sacred place of Muslims from Mangalore Airport
 
S K Bellubbi, minister for Hajj and Wakf waved the flag to mark the formal departure of the pilgrims in the presence of Fazal Koyamma Tangal, assistant Qazi of Ullal. Twaka Ahmed Musliyar, Qazi of DK district led the prayers.

Minister S K Bellubbi said that in all there are 6,800 Hajj pilgrims going from Karnataka. "Pilgrims would also be flying from Bangalore, Goa and Hyderbad," he added
 
He wished the pilgrims a pleasant journey and also invoked Allah's blessings for a harmonious India and drought-free state.
 
Speaking on government projects, the minister said that a Hajj Ghar is being built in Bangalore at a cost of Rs 42 crore.
 
Approximately Rs 40 lac was saved after Mangalore Old Airport was used for the Hajj camp this year. This was the fifth time Hajj pilgrims are leaving from Mangalore Airport.
 
This year Airbus 310 was introduced for the smooth travel of the pilgrims. T Abbas a retired PWD engineer from Puttur and one of the elderly pilgrims, expressed his happiness while speaking to press persons. He was assisted by his family members with a wheelchair. "I tried to go on Hajj pilgrimage three times but could not succeed, however, the fourth time my efforts have yielded fruit. People will help me while landing in the far away place," he said.

Y Mohammed Kunhi, president of Mangalore Hajj management committee, Usman Hajji, president of D K district Wakf advisory committee, Shafi Sayed Nandavar, member of state Wakf board, Shahul Hamid, president of Bajpe gram panchayat, MLAs B Ramanath Rai, Abhayachandra Jain, ZP member (Goliyar) Santhosh Kumar Rai, Moideen Bava among others were present.