Vijayawada, April 19 (IANS) The second and final batch of Haj pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh left for Saudi Arabia from the Vijayawada International Airport on Sunday.

State Minority Welfare Minister N.M.D. Farooq flagged off the second batch. He expressed best wishes to the pilgrims, expressing hope that their journey would be successful, peaceful, and filled with joy.

A total of 177 pilgrims left for Saudi Arabia. The first batch of 156 pilgrims had departed on Saturday.

The pilgrims left for the airport from the S.M. Convention Centre, which was turned into a Haj camp.

In his remarks on the occasion, the minister said that, at the direction of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, grand arrangements have been made to facilitate the pilgrims’ journey to Mecca. He emphasised that the Andhra Pradesh government accords the highest priority to the welfare of the Muslim community and to their holy pilgrimages.

Government Advisor on Minority Affairs Mohammed Sharif, Haj Committee Chairman Hasan Pasha, Urdu Academy Chairman Mohammed Shubli, Haj Committee member Hasan Basha, Minority Finance Corporation Chairman Maulana Mustaq Ahmed, Vijayawada DCP, Law and Order, N.B.M. Murali Krishna, Haj Committee CEO Ghouse Peer, Minority Finance Corporation MD Yakub Basha and other senior officials were present.

The minister mentioned that the government made excellent arrangements for accommodation and hygienic food to ensure that pilgrims face no inconvenience whatsoever. He commended the catering organisers, noting that they performed their duties with a spirit of selfless service rather than with a profit motive.

He gave an assurance that members of the Haj Committee would remain constantly available to provide emergency medical assistance.

He offered several key guidelines to the pilgrims. Noting the intense heat conditions prevailing in Saudi Arabia, the minister advised pilgrims to remain vigilant regarding their health.

He said, given the increased distances between accommodation centres in Mecca and Medina, pilgrims must strictly adhere to schedules and maintain punctuality. Furthermore, they must strictly respect and abide by the restrictions regarding the use of gas stoves within their accommodation facilities.

Farooq also announced that the Chief Minister has allocated land for the construction of a Haj House in Amaravati, and work on the project is set to commence very soon.

He said with the assistance of Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu, priority has been secured regarding flight services to Saudi Arabia, and plans are in place to increase the number of pilgrims fivefold in the future.

A total of 2,005 pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh will undertake the pilgrimage this year. From the Vijayawada embarkation point, 333 pilgrims departed in two batches. Nearly 50 per cent of pilgrims are women.

The remaining pilgrims will depart from Hyderabad International Airport.

–IANS

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