Kondotty: Marking the beginning of this year’s haj pilgrimage from India, the first flight carrying haj pilgrims under the Kerala State Haj Committee will take off from Nedumbassery on Saturday. Minister V Abdurahiman will flag off the first flight. The first flight will have 377 passengers. 

Along with the 5758 pilgrims from Kerala, 1989 persons from Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Puducherry will set off for the pilgrimage from the Cochin International Airport. A total of 7747 pilgrims will take off from Nedumbassery this year. 

20 flights of Saudi Airlines have been scheduled from June 4 to 16 for the haj pilgrimage. According to the current schedule, each flight has been reserved for the haj pilgrimage on June 4, 6, 7, 9, 13, 15, while two flights on June 5, 8, 10, 14 and three services on June 12 and 16. 

The people who are to take the first flight have been directed to assemble at the haj camp on Thursday. RT-PCR tests will be done at the airport. Haj committee members, volunteers, health workers and haj cell officers have arrived at the camp. The flag-off function will be attended by minister P Rajeev, Ahammad Devarkovil, Chairman of Haj Committee of India A P Abdullakutty, Kerala State Haj Committee Chairman C Muhammed Faizy, MLAs P T A Rahim and Anwar Sadath. 

Rs 5300 more to be paid 

The Haj Committee of India directed that pilgrims selected through the Haj committee will have to pay Rs 5,300 more. This is an additional amount over Rs 3,84,200 that was directed earlier. The money must be paid to the account of Haj Committee of India through online mode or through State Bank of India or Union Bank of India using pay-in-slips.