Lucknow, Aug 27 (IANS): The first group of 350 Haj pilgrims left for Jeddah on a Saudi Airlines flight from here Wednesday.
They were seen off by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Minority Welfare Minister Mohd. Azam Khan and other senior officials. Before flagging them off, Akhilesh Yadav urged the pilgrims to pray for betterment of society, the state and the nation.
The Haj Committee of India has provisionally selected a total of 25,910 Haj pilgrims this year.
As many as 10,507 pilgrims will leave by 32 flights from New Delhi while 11,035 pilgrims will board 31 flights from Lucknow and 4,368 pilgrims will take off for Jeddah on 15 flights from Varanasi, an official told IANS.
The official said all pilgrims have been provided with passport, visa and other relevant documents. Their vaccination and medical checks have also been conducted, he added.