Srinagar, Jun 05 (KNS): Following suspension of Hajj pilgrimage due to Covid-19 pandemic, after a gap of two years first batch of 145 Hajj pilgrims from J&K left for the holy pilgrimage on Sunday.
An official told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that Advisor to LG J&K, R.R Bhatnagar in the presence of Principal Secretary to LG, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and IGP Kashmir flagged off the first batch of Haj pilgrims from Srinagar Airport while Commissioner Secretary Revenue Vijay Kumar along with Er Aijaz Hussain Member HCoI and other officials flagged off the first batch of Hajj pilgrims from Haj House Srinagar.
He said that emotional scenes were witnessed at the Hajj house Bemina as the pilgrimage resumed after a gap of two years due to Covid-19 pandemic.
The official said that first batch left from Srinagar Airport on a direct flight to Jeddah.
Hajj officer, Abdul Salam Mir, while talking to reporters said that all arrangements have been put in place for the smooth conduct of the Hajj pilgrimage.
As per the Hajj quota allotted to J&K this year, around 6000 pilgrims from J&K are expected to perform the holy pilgrimage, of which around 5000 will be from Kashmir and rest from Jammu and Ladakh.
Meanwhile, Hajj pilgrims while speaking to reporters at Hajj house Bemina said that they were happy that the holy pilgrimage has resumed after a gap of two years and they were fortunate enough to perform this pilgrimage.
“We are thankful to Almighty Allah that the pilgrimage has resumed after two years. We had been waiting eagerly to perform the pilgrimage and our prayers have finally been answered,” said a pilgrim. (KNS)