Mangalore, November 12: The first batch of Hajj pilgrims, who had undertaken pilgrimage from this coastal city this year, returned home on Monday.
Carrying 220 pilgrims, the wide-body jet airliner 'Airbus A-310' landed at the Mangalore International Airport at around 2:15 p.m.
This marks the start of the return of as many 1065 pilgrims from Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Udupi, Hassan and Chikmagalur districts, flown on Government subsidy from Mangalore.
State Hajj Committee Chief Executive Officer Maaz Ahmed Shareef, Mangalore Hajj Management Committee President Y Muhammad Kunhi, Dakshina Kananda District Wakf Advisory Committee President H S Usman among other welcomed the pilgrims.
Despite a delay of around three hours the pilgrims had no serious complaints about airliner. Relatives and friends of the pilgrims, who had gathered outside the Airport terminal to welcome their dear ones, had to wait for three hours due to the flight delay.
“Though we faced some minor troubles during the pilgrimage, the return was a happy journey. The Zam Zam water cans, which had arrived at the Airport before us were handed over to us by the authorities immediately”, said Abdullah, one of the pilgrims.
It could be recalled here that last year Hajj pilgrims from Mangalore on their way back home had got stranded at King Abdul Azeez International Airport at Jeddah for a long time. Moreover the Zam Zam water cans and other belongings of the pilgrims had reached home after weeks of delay.
Maaz Ahmed Shareef said that the remaining pilgrims would return in five consecutive days. The second batch, which is expected to arrive on Tuesday, will consist of 220 pilgrims. The third and fourth batches each consisting of 219 pilgrims will return on Wednesday and Thursday respectively, while the fifth and final batch consisting of 187 people will return on Friday, he said.
Among the 1,065 pilgrims, who had boarded Hajj flights from Mangalore this year, 547 are male and 518 are female.
Related:
First batch of Hajj pilgrims departs from Mangalore
Air Bus 310 operates on M'lore tarmac for first time to carry Hajj pilgrims
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