Mangalore to host second Hajj camp

Mangalore to host second Hajj camp

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, September 17: Recalling the success of the first Hajj camp held in Mangalore, Minister for Hajj and Wakf Mumtaz Ali Khan said that the second Hajj camp will soon be held in the city because a number of people from DK, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, and Kasargod were planning to undertake the pilgrimage this year. He told reporters that the government was making all the required arrangements for a smooth Hajj. 

 

Mr. Khan also said that a total of 7,134 applicants have already been selected for the Hajj this year and that the number might increase in the following days. Explaining further, he said that 5576 out of 7134 applicants will travel on the general quota, 708 will travel on the additional quota, and 805 people will travel on the MP and VIP quota. He also recalled that 7053 people were chosen for the Hajj from Karnataka last year. 

The pilgrims will travel on the first, second, and third categories at the cost of Rs. 1.24 lakh, Rs 1.15 lakh, and Rs. 1.06 lakh, respectively; and each passenger will receive Rs. 25,000 after they reach Jeddah. He said that this year’s Hajj camp will be set up in the old terminal of Mangalore Airport and added that 680 pilgrims will board the flight through Qurra and 166 will board it through government quota this year. He recalled that pilgrims hailing from Mangalore were first taken to Calicut from where they boarded the flight to Jeddah last year and added that they will be flown directly to Jeddah this year.

The minister also said that two meningitis vaccination camps will be conducted in the city just before the launching of the Hajj camp. The pilgrims will be vaccinated for meningitis at Yenepoya Hospital in Kodiyalbail in Mangalore on September 27; and on September 28, the vaccination camp will be held at Halima Sabju Auditorium in Udupi. 

Mr. Khan also said that a Hajj Ghar will be established in Bangalore near Devanahalli International Airport in Bangalore at the cost of Rs. 20 crore. A total of Rs. 10 crore has already been earmarked for the purpose and the work will commence when the government releases another Rs. 10 crore. He said that the Wakf plans to approach the CM B. S. Yeddyurappa and expressed hopes that the CM will not reject the demands. 

S. Mohammed Ghouse Basha Ashrafi, the chairman of the Karnataka State Hajj Committee; M. Saleem Ambagilu, the director; Y. Mohammed Kunhi, the district president of the Karnataka State Wakf Board, were also present.