First 'Haj flight' from Srinagar leaves Oct 20

Srinagar, Oct 15 (IANS) The first direct Srinagar-Jeddah flight carrying pilgrims to the holiest Muslim cities of Makkah and Madina for the annual Haj will leave here Oct 20.

'The first Haj flight will leave Srinagar for Jeddah on Oct 20. Two flights carrying the pilgrims will leave Srinagar daily,' said an official at the local Haj office here.

This year, 7,630 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir will performance the Haj in Saudi Arabia.

The first flight will return Dec 3.

Arrangements have been made by the state government for medical and hotel facilities to those coming here from other districts in Kashmir and the Jammu region. Central heating is being put in place at the Haj house in Bemina on the outskirts of Srinagar.