Haj pilgrims felicitated before journey to Madina

VASCO, NOV 4
After a delay of almost 11 days, the 282 Haj pilgrims will leave for Madina in Saudi Arabia by maiden direct flight from Goa on Friday at about 1 am.
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat along with Home Minister Ravi Naik and South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha felicitated the Hajis, who will leave for Madina, in the presence of Goa State Haj Committee (GSHC) Vice Chairperson Abdul Rehman, trustees of Masjite-e-Noor Iqbal Mohidin, All Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Minority Chairperson Saifullah Khan and others.
They were felicitated on the inaugural function of maiden flight to Haj from Goa at Noor-e-Masjit, Alto-Dabloim, on Thursday.
The Haj pilgrims, who had arrived in the State from Kerala, Bihar, UP and other states, to board the flight were forced to stay in Goa, as a portion of the runway at Dabolim airport was damaged, after a fuel tanker met with a self accident on the runway on October 23, which was repaired on October 31 evening.
Addressing Hajis, Kamat wished the pilgrims and prayed for their safe and happy journey in maiden flight from Goa.
“I hope that Haj pilgrims’ number will increase next year and if the number of pilgrims increases next year, then efforts will be made to double the number of flights from Goa,” said Kamat.
Kamat thanked Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and South Goa MP Sardinha for granting a direct flight to Haj from Goa.
Home Minister Ravi Naik and South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha also wished the Haji’s and prayed for their safe journey.
The jumbo jet, direct charter flight, Alwafeer Airline Boeing B747-400, to Haj, which was scheduled to operate from Goa on Thursday at about 7 pm was further delayed and will arrive at 11 pm and leave for Haj at about 1 am.