Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 20: After remaining suspended for 15 days due to floods in Kashmir, Hajj flights resumed from Srinagar Airport today carrying 550 pilgrims to Jeddah for annual Hajj pilgrimage.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that two flights took off from the Srinagar International Airport, carrying 275 pilgrims each.
The Hajj flights were suspended on September 5 when Hajj house at Bemina was inundated by floods but the staff of the Hajj House managed to safeguard the passports, visas and other documents of the pilgrims.
As the Hajj house at Bemina is still inundated, the pilgrims were asked to report at a local hotel, Hotel Crimson, at Hyderpora where all formalities were fulfilled before their onward journey to Srinagar International Airport for boarding their flights.
Around 7, 000 people are performing Hajj from Jammu and Kashmir this year and half of them had already left for Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj while rest half was stuck here due to floods.
An official of the Hajj house said that flights were resumed today and 3775 pilgrims who were left behind will leave for Hajj in 13 flights. The first flight resumed today with two flights carrying 550 pilgrims. He said Hajj flights will be operated on September 21, 22, 24, 25, 26 and the last flight is scheduled to take off on September 27.
Wishing successful Hajj to the pilgrims, Chief Minister said flood and torrential rains affected the normal flight schedule, but it is heartening that the process has been resumed. He hoped that all the remaining pilgrims would perform the holy journey from Srinagar smoothly.
Hajj and Auqaf Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed saw off the pilgrims at the Srinagar Airport and wished them successful journey and good health.
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