‘ONLY 1 RELATIVE PER PILGRIM GROUP CAN STAY AT HAJ HOUSE’

MUMBAI: With just 10 days to go for pilgrims to depart for the annual Haj pilgrimage, the Haj Committee of India (HCOI) said that only one relative per group of Hajis (pilgrims) will be provided accommodation in the Haj House.

“With an increase in the number of flights from Mumbai, we do not have enough space to provide transit accommodation to people accompanying Hajis. Earlier, even those who would come along with pilgrims were given free accommodation at Haj House. Now, we have instructed the pilgrims that only one relative per group can stay along with them in the premises,” said Maqsood Khan, chief executive officer, HCOI.

While pilgrims flying from Mumbai usually travelled in two or three flights, the number has gone up to six and seven this year, Khan said.

The announcement comes in light of the Central government’s move to can Haj subsidy, which has led to an increase in number of registrations in the city as it is considered to be one of the cheaper embarkation points.

Pilgrims from Maharashtra, Daman and Diu, Madhya Pradesh and Goa will leave from the city this year. On July 29, 14,677 Hajis will be boarding flights to Jeddah from Mumbai, compared 6,297 last year.

THE DECISION COMES AS A RESULT OF A SPACE CRUNCH, AS MORE PILGRIMS WILL FLY FROM MUMBAI AFTER CANCELLATION OF HAJ SUBSIDY THIS YEAR