MALAPPURAM: This year’s state Haj camp for the selected pilgrims will be set up at a hanger facility of the Cochin International Airport (CIAL) in Nedumbassery. The airport authorities have decided to provide the space for the camp in the facility at a meeting of officials from the state Haj Committee and the CIAL here on Tuesday.
The meeting was to discuss the arrangements for the camp to be set up at the only embarkation point in the state. The pilgrims from Lakshadweep and Mahe will also be flown from here besides the pilgrims from the state. The 15-day camp will begin on August 20 and the first Haj flight from the state is scheduled for August 22.
The meeting has also discussed more facilities and measures to be provided for the increased number of pilgrims. The number has doubled up this year. The same facility at the airport had been used for setting up the camp for around 7,000 pilgrims last year. This year the number has increased into more than 11,000.
This was the first round of meeting of officials as part of the this year’s Haj camp. Airport director A.C.K. Nair, Executive Director Shabeer A.M. Haj Committee chairman Kottumala Bapu Musliyar, Executive Officer of the committee and Malappuram District Collector A. Venkateshapti were present at the meeting. According to a senior Haj committee official, a crucial meeting of officials from various agencies involved in the Haj service, like Customs, Immigration and Police will be held on the second week of July.
