Vijayawada: A total of 156 Haj pilgrims departed from the Vijayawada embarkation point for Saudi Arabia on Saturday, with ministers flagging off the first batch.
Minority welfare minister N.M.D. Farooq, mines, geology and excise minister Kollu Ravindra, government whip and Gannavaram MLA Yarlagadda Venkat Rao, and East Guntur MLA Shaik Naseer Ahmed flagged off the pilgrims.
The pilgrims were transported in four special buses from the camp at SM Convention Hall in Gannavaram to Vijayawada International Airport, where they boarded Flight F3-6391 at 2.15 pm. The group comprised 73 men and 83 women.
Addressing the pilgrims, the ministers said the government had made comprehensive arrangements for their travel, including accommodation, food and transport facilities in view of the summer conditions.
Farooq said arrangements for Haj pilgrims had been prioritised under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and noted that the present system enables direct travel from Vijayawada. He also said financial assistance would be credited to pilgrims’ bank accounts.
Ravindra said the state government was providing financial aid of `1 lakh to each pilgrim and added that 333 pilgrims would depart from Gannavaram in two batches on April 18 and 19.
Yarlagadda Venkat Rao extended his wishes to the pilgrims and said the embarkation facility in the constituency was a matter of significance.
Religious leaders offered prayers, while family members gathered to see off the pilgrims. Officials from minority welfare departments and related bodies were present.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
