IANS

Srinagar, Oct 20: The first Srinagar-Jeddah flight carrying Haj pilgrims left this Jammu and Kashmir summer capital Tuesday morning.

The pilgrims were given a warm send-off by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who had been personally overseeing the arrangements for this year's pilgrimage.

Arrangements for ablutions, the 'ahram' (unstitched white robe), foreign exchange and travel documents had been made by the authorities at the Bemina Haj house here.

"This year, 7,630 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir would be performing the Haj. Each day, two flights carrying the pilgrims would leave Srinagar international airport.

"The first flight bringing back the pilgrims after the Haj would reach here from Saudi Arabia on Dec 3," a senior official told IANS.

About 400 pilgrims left the Valley in two Air India flights, which would carry them to Jeddah from where they would proceed to the holiest Muslim cities of Mecca and Madina.