Srinagar, Sep 30 (IANS): The first batch of Haj pilgrims, comprising 673 people, from Jammu and Kashmir returned from Saudi Arabia on Wednesday in two Air India flights.

"(A total of) 673 Haj pilgrims arrived from Saudi Arabia in two Air India flights at the Srinagar International Airport today," a provincial administration official told IANS here.

"Of these, 336 Pilgrims arrived in the first Indian Airlines flight this morning while 337 pilgrims arrived in the second flight," the official added.

Jammu and Kashmir's Haj and Auqaf Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri, who received the pilgrims, said 6,642 pilgrims had gone to performing Haj from the state this year.

He said 10 pilgrims from the state died during the Haj pilgrimage.

"Of these, one died in the crane accident in Makkah. Three died in the stampede at Mina. Four died of natural causes while the causes of death in case of the remaining two dead pilgrims are still being ascertained," the minister said.

"Four pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir are still missing since the Mina stampede," he added.