Hyderabad, September 27: The annual Haj Camp 2011 began here at the Haj House at Nampally on Tuesday morning.
The Andhra Pradesh State Haj Committee has made elaborate arrangements for the safe and smooth departure of 7800 Haj pilgrims from the state and the neighbouring districts of Karnataka. The Andhra Pradesh will send 7100 pilgrims while 700 pilgrims from Karnataka will emplane for the Holy land. As many as 347 pilgrims from Anantapur district will take flights from Bangalore embarkation point.
Apart from scheduled 24 flights the Haj Committee of India has arranged two additional flights, which owing to constraints at Madina airport will depart for Jeddah and the pilgrims will have to put on ehram. These pilgrims have been advised to pay an additional amount of Rs. 1800 per head towards additional transport charges in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The pilgrims of the first flight scheduled to take off in the early hours of September 30, from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport have already reported and the Haj Committee have provided accommodation to them in the Haj House building.
Minorities Welfare Minister Mohammed Ahmadullah and senior officials inspected the Haj Camp and made suggestion for improving the facilities. According to the SHC, accommodation for around 800 pilgrims has been made available in the main building and the adjacent open ground, where water proof shed has been erected.
The counters of various departments and utility stalls by various organizations have started functioning. In view of the strike by the RTC employees, the private bus operators has been engaged to transport the pilgrims and their baggage from Haj Camp to the airport.
Inoculation to the pilgrims of Hyderabad and RR district has been done with the help of medical teams from Princess Esra hospital Charminar and the Institute of Preventive medicine, Hyderabad. While in the districts respective Haj Societies made arrangements for administration of anti Meningitis vaccine and polio drops. The Haj camp will conclude on October 16.
The Medical teams from the Princess Esra Hospital Charminar will provide round the clock emergency service to the pilgrims and distribute necessary medicines free of cost. Immigration and Customs officials will provide necessary services and the due Foreign Currency at the rate of 2100 Saudi Riyal each to all the pilgrims and boarding passes will be handed over to them in the Haj Camp itself.
–Agencies