TRIVANDRUM, 9 December 2003 — Arrangements have been made in Kerala for this year’s Haj and the first Indian Haj flight carrying 410 pilgrims will take off for Jeddah from the Calicut airport on Dec. 24, authorities said yesterday.
Some 7,658 pilgrims are leaving on the holy trip under the aegis of the state government. An equal number of pilgrims are expected to embark on the pilgrimage through private tour operators.
The Haj camp was set up at the Kumminiparambu EMEA College near the airport where facilities for the security clearances have been arranged, District Collector T.O. Sooraj said.
Under the State Haj Committee, 4,091 men and 3,567 women have been selected, besides 124 from the Lakshadweep islands. There are 225 volunteers to help the pilgrims. The pilgrims will be vaccinated. Special committees have been formed to take care of pilgrims at the holy places.
