30,000 from UP to go on Haj this year

LUCKNOW: Nearly 30,000 Muslims would go on the annual ‘Haj’ pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia from Uttar Pradesh this year.

The state, which has a Muslim population of around 3.84 crore, was allotted a quota for sending 29,851 pilgrims for Haj 2019.

Uttar Pradesh minority welfare minister Chaudhary Laxmi Narain initiated the process for the draw of lots on Monday and a final list of those selected would be declared and uploaded soon by the Uttar Pradesh Haj Committee on its website.

“Since the lottery process is held district-wise, tabulation and compilation of data and declaring the final result takes some time,” said a Haj Committee official. The official added that a waiting list would also be released on February 5.

He said the Haj committee had received 42,914 applications.

“Out of these total applications, 30,237 have been shortlisted through the Qurrah or draw of lots,” he said.

Apart from the state capital, which accounts for sending the maximum number of ‘Hajis’ from the state, pilgrims would also depart to perform the annual ritual at Mecca in Saudi Arabia from Varanasi and New Delhi.

Narain said all types of facilities and amenities would be provided to the pilgrims at the Haj House and special buses would be deployed to take them to the airport.

The airlines would operate four to five flights each daily from July 1, with the last outbound flight scheduled to take off on August 3, to Saudi Arabia.