Malappuram: State Haj camp inaugurated

Sunday, September 25, 2011: Kerala Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty today inaugurated the state Haj camp under the Haj Committee at Karippur International Airport here.

The first Saudi Arabia Airlines flight carrying the pilgrimage will leave the airport at on September 29. More than 8600 pilgrims from Kerala, union territory of Lakshadweep island and Mahe woill be going for haj pilgrimage from here between September 29 and October 15, official sources said.

State Hajj Committee chairman PTA Rahim, MLA, said the inaugural flight would take off from Karipur at 10.45 a.m. with 300 pilgrims. The pilgrims would be flown to Medina, and their return would be from Jeddah.

There will be two flights on the first day. Apart from the 10.45 a.m. flight, Saudi Arabian Airlines will operate another flight at 1.30 p.m.
Rahim said that as per the deal signed with Saudi Arabian Airlines, the airline would have to pay damages for any delay beyond four hours.
Last year, flight delay had caused some embarrassment for the Haj committee.

As many as 30 government officials have been deputed for Hajj duty at the camp. Twenty volunteers from the State will accompany the 8,000-odd pilgrims.