Tuesday, July 24, 2018

JEDDAH — The first batch of Indian pilgrims coming through Haj Committee of India (HCOI) reached Makkah from Madinah on Monday. The pilgrims were received at Makkah by the Indian Consul General Md. Noor Rahman Sheikh along with DCG/Consul (Haj) Mohd. Shahid Alam and Vice Consul (Haj)/In-Charge, Makkah Office Asif Saeed.

These pilgrims had arrived in Madinah from India on July 14. Tuesday, 3,746 pilgrims will move from Madinah to Makkah. New and good quality buses are being used for the movement of Hajis between Madinah and Makkah.

So far, 133 flights have arrived in Madinah from India carrying 37,578 Hajis. The last Haj flight to Madinah will be on Aug. 2.

The first flight to Jeddah will arrive on July 29 at 9.30 a.m. carrying 420 Hajis from Chennai. The last Haj flight for Indian Hajis will be on Aug. 16. A total of 234 flights will be operated to transport 67,302 pilgrims to Madinah and 209 flights to Jeddah to carry 61,400 pilgrims.

Sheikh noted that a total of 1,300 women pilgrims are coming for Haj without a mahram (male blood relative) for this year’s Haj for the first time.

All arrangements for accommodation of Indian Hajis in Green category and Azizia category, transportation of Hajis between Azizia and Haram Sharif by new and good quality buses, supply of tri-colored umbrellas to all Hajis, supply of 2 bedsheets to all Hajis etc. are in place.

About 600 officials deputed by Ministry of Minority Affairs have already reached Makkah and Madinah and are providing assistance to the Hajis.

Besides the main Haj offices in Makkah and Madinah, two 40-bed hospitals in Azizia, 10-bed hospital in Makkah, 14 branch offices-cum-dispensaries in Makkah/Azizia, 15-bed hospital in Madinah and 3 branch office-cum-dispensaries in Madinah are 24X7 functional.

Sheikh said that the Indian Haj Mission has linked all its hospitals and branch dispensaries in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah as well as at the Jeddah airport Haj terminal with an online software system for the first time.

The newly introduced e-MASIHA (electronic- Medical Assistance System for Indian Hajis Abroad), developed by the Consulate, is working quite well for providing OPD services to the Indian Hajis. — SG

Source: http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/539721/SAUDI-ARABIA/First-batch-of-Indian-pilgrims-reach-Makkah