First Haj flight from East UP delayed

VARANASI: The season’s first flight carrying a batch of 250 Haj pilgrims from east UP to Medina in Saudi Arabia got delayed by three hours due to technical snag on Tuesday. The flight was to take off from Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport at 8:10 pm. It was rescheduled at 11:20 pm.
Haj Committee spokesman Junaid Ali Khan said, “The flight was originally scheduled to take off at 8:10 pm but technical caused delay in the departure of the flight carrying Haj pilgrims on Tuesday,” a private airlines would operate daily flights from Varanasi to Medina till September 2.
Most of the Haj pilgrims hailed from Azamgarh, Allahabad, Mau and Varanasi. Other pilgrims from Ballia, Chandauli, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Jaunpur, Kaushambi, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Sant Ravidasnagar and Sonbhadra were also in the first batch. “Of the 250 pilgrims, 142 are men and 108,” he said.
All the pilgrims left on six buses from the temporary Haj House at Cultural Complex on Tuesday evening.
At the temporary Haj House on Tuesday evening, all the Hajis were seen praying. Most of them are senior citizens and it is their first air journey. They were nervous and excited.
“It’s my first Haj trip and I am glad that my son is accompanying me. We reached here in the morning,” 72 years old Hasrat-un-Nisa of Azamgarh. Another 72-year old pilgrim Amullah Khatoon of Maharajganj is also travelling for the first time.
Another 70-year old Habibullah, a resident of Gorakhpur said, “The wait was worth it and our daughters and grandchildren are accompanying us,” chirped his wife Gul Sanobar.
A pilgrim from Mau Abdul Jalil, who was seen trudging with a walking stick, said: “I am traveling with my wife and it’s our first Haj. Though, I am weak yet nothing could deter my spirit as only lucky ones make Haj trip.”
There were some who seemed unhappy with the arrangements at the Haj House. “We have been camping here since last two days and the arrangements are so not up to the mark. There is no drinking water facility,” Mohd Hadis of Maharajganj said. His relatives, Anis-un-Nisa and Hajra also complained of same issues.
ADM (city) Vindhyavasini Rai said, “The district administration has made all arrangements. As far as drinking water and food are concerned, the Haj Committee looks after these things.”