First batch of Hajis reach Mangalore

The flight was delayed by 19 hours

About 160 pilgrims were brought to Mangalore by Nas Airlines at 7.15 am.  Karnataka State Hajj Committee Chairman S Mohammed Ghouse Basha Ashrafi, Hajj Executive Committee President Yenepoya Mohammed Kunhi, and members Moidin Bava, Riyaz Bava, Basheer Ahmed accorded a warm welcome to the pilgrims.

The pilgrims after completing the Hajj rituals were stranded at King Abdul Azeez International Airport at Jeddah for over 15 hours. The revision of the flight schedule delayed the journey, said the pilgrims

In fact, the first batch was scheduled to reach Mangalore at 12.10 pm on Saturday. One of the pilgrims said that that though their batch was taken to Jeddah Airport even before the scheduled time, they had to starve for many hours in the biting cold.“There was lack of proper arrangement at the Jeddah airport,” said Mohammed Kunhi.

A Senior Citizen said that the pilgrims had to face lot of problems in Jeddah owing to the irresponsible and indifferent attitude of authorities.

He said that apart from the delay in flight schedule, the pilgrims were not served food on time.

Another passenger said that he could not eat proper food at Jeddah Airport because the food served was unsavoury.