Srinagar, Apr 21 (KNO): A total of 3,624 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir will perform the Hajj pilgrimage this year while a three-day vaccination drive is underway across all 20 districts of the Union Territory.
Executive Officer of the J&K State Haj Committee, Dr Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, speaking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that out of the total, 3,300 pilgrims will travel via Srinagar embarkation point. He said among the rest, 480 will leave from Delhi, 10 from Mumbai and 2 from Hyderabad.
Additionally, 242 pilgrims from Ladakh will also embark from Srinagar, he added.
He said the vaccination drive is being conducted on April 21, 22, and 23. “Pilgrims from remote areas can arrive at the Haj House in Bemina one or two days in advance, and all arrangements for their stay have been made,” Dr Qureshi said.
Regarding the flight schedule, he said that on May 9 and 14; two flights are scheduled per day, while on other days one flight will operate daily. The Hajj departures will begin from May 4, and return flights are scheduled between June 17 and June 28.
Meanwhile, only 3,624 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir are set to perform Hajj this year, a substantial decrease from 7,008 in 2024 and 35,000 in 2017.
This 70% drop over two years is attributed to rising costs, the discontinuation of government subsidies, and logistical challenges.
Notably, a significant factor contributing to the decline is the 80% cut in India’s private Hajj quota by Saudi Arabia, affecting over 52,000 Indian pilgrims, including many from Jammu and Kashmir. This abrupt decision has left numerous pilgrims in uncertainty—(KNO)