Air India bans zam zam water on 2 Jeddah flights

MUMBAI: The Air India has notified travel agents and

Haj pilgrims

that its flights operating between Jeddah -Hyderabad - Mumbai and Jeddah - Cochin till September 15 will not allow

zam zam water

on them. The July 4, 2019 circular, issued from Air India's Jeddah office, has gone viral since and left many pilgrims and tour operators worried.

"Due to change of aircraft and limitation of seats, zam zam cans will not be allowed on our flights ," said the letter. After many pilgrims approached Congress MLA Amin Patel to intervene, he has written to the ministries of civil aviation and minority affairs, requesting them to direct the Air India to arrange zam zam for the pilgrims returning by these flights till September 15.

"Zam zam is sacred water and has religious significance. It is believed to be so blessed that it can cure illnesses. Hajis must be allowed to carry them," he said.

Though an AI spokesperson refused to comment, a source within the airline confirmed that the circular was genuine. Many leading Private Tour Operators TOI spoke to denied having received it.

Haj Committee of India's CEO M A Khan said AI was bound to give a can carrying 5 litre of zam zam to each pilgrim returning from Haj as "this is part of the MOU signed between AI and Haj Committee."

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