136,020 Indian pilgrims to arrive for Haj

JEDDAH: A total of 136,020 pilgrims from India will be arriving in the Kingdom to perform Haj this year, with the first flight landing in Madinah from Delhi on Aug. 16.
According to Consul General B.S. Mubarak, the first flight will depart from Jeddah on Sept. 28 for Mangalore.
The Haj Committee has got the lion’s share of the quota of 100,020 pilgrims, the remaining 36,000 have gone to private tour operators, he said.
Saudi Arabian Airlines will carry 51,120 pilgrims, Air India 37,940 and NAS Air 11,030.
The highest number of Indian pilgrims will be from Uttar Pradesh (23,091), followed by West Bengal (10,248), Bihar (7,716), Maharashtra (7,712) and Jammu and Kashmir (6,597).
Accommodation will be provided by eight reputable housing groups to Hajis in Madinah; 70 percent of pilgrims will be accommodated in Markazia and the rest (30 percent) outside Markazia.
Catering services for 60,000 Hajis will be provided by Saudi Arabian Airlines Catering Co. and Makarem Bakkah Co. while another 40,000 will be provided by Mukhtara Co. and Bathawi Catering Co. Breakfast will be provided by the concerned housing groups.
An emergency contact button has been provided in the home page of the app whereby a Haji can contact the Indian Haj Pilgrims’ Office through its toll-free telephone No. 8002477786. The details of the concerned Khadimul Hujjaj as well as co-pilgrims of the concerned Haji have also been made available in the app. The WhatsApp number is 00966-543891481, toll free telephone No. 8002477786 (within the Kingdom, for pilgrims only).
The 24x7 helpline phone numbers are 00966-12-5458000 and 00966-12-5496000.