Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Oct 15: A number of pilgrims, who are taking up Haj pilgrimage this year, are anxious about the fate of their pilgrimage, as dates of their travel have not yet been fixed. Many of them were promised earlier that the date of travel would be around October 15, but even now, there is no clear information about when they would be taken on the pilgrimage.

When contacted, president of Karnataka State Haj Committee, S Muhammed Ghouse Basha, said that the state committee has not received any information about the proposed direct Haj pilgrimage flights from Mangalore, and that the state committee is awaiting communication from the central committee. The pilgrims, who were expecting direct flights to Saudi Arabia from here, were taken through Kozhikode airport last year, as the Saudi Airlines jumbo jets could not touch down here. President of Mangalore Camp Haj Organizing Committee, Y Muhammed Kunhi, said that he has been in constant touch with the concerned, and that except that there would be direct flights from the city this time, no other information is available. He however, said that he has learnt that from Bangalore, flights will operate from October 14 onwards.

Local airport director, M R Vasudeva, said that during this year, flights for Haj pilgrimage will operate directly from here. He said he has received oral information that the tentative dates of journey are October 26, 27 and 28, but confirmation of these dates is yet to be received, and that discussions are continuing on this issue. He clarified that for the first time, pilgrims will be taken for the pilgrimage from the local airport directly, and that temporary permission for the flights of Saudi Airlines to operate from here has been given by the civil aviation ministry, for the specific purpose of carrying Haj pilgrims.