2,100 Haj pilgrims to fly for Mecca from April 24

Nagpur: Around 2,100 pilgrims from Central India will depart from Nagpur for the annual Haj pilgrimage beginning April 24, with a total of 15 flights scheduled till May 6. All flights will first land in Madina, from where pilgrims will proceed to Mecca to perform the pilgrimage rituals in the last week of May. Return journeys are scheduled between June 17 and June 21, officials said, adding that there is no disruption in flight schedules despite prevailing tensions in West Asia.This year the supporting agency contract has been awarded to Shabnam Bahuddesiya Sanstha. Its secretary Shahid Rangoonwala said all pilgrims must report at Haj House for baggage procedures at least 10 hours before their flight schedule. "Pilgrims can avail AC bus services arranged by us to reach the airport, while those who prefer can report directly after completing baggage formalities," he said. MA Rashid, media in-charge of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Nagpur, has urged pilgrims to remain cautious following multiple complaints of theft of cash and valuables during previous pilgrmage trips. Incidents reported by passengers from Nagpur have raised concerns over the safety of belongings, especially as many pilgrims carry cash for their 42-45 day stay. He advised travellers to avoid placing valuables in checked-in baggageRashid said many pilgrims save for years to undertake Haj and any loss of valuables can cause severe hardship, particularly for elderly travellers, women and those from economically weaker sections. He also called for strict action in such cases. Several travellers shared their experiences, including Mushtaq Ahsan Qureshi, who reported that his luggage was returned after two months with Rs21,000 missing; Abdul Quddus from Pension Nagar alleged theft during his journey via Bengaluru to Jeddah. Noor Mohammad from Rathod Layout said his bag was delivered late with valuables missing after his return journey during Ramadan. Complaints in these cases are still under process.
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