Kashmir Impulse Desk
New Delhi, April 19
The first group of Kashmiri Hajj pilgrims, including 431 from Jammu and Kashmir, arrived in Madinah on Saturday and were received by Saudi and Indian officials, authorities said.
Deputy Ministers of Hajj and Umrah Abdulaziz Wazzan and Ayad Abdulrahman Rahbini, along with India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Suhel Ajaz Khan, welcomed the pilgrims at Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport.
Consul General Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri and senior Hajj Ministry officials were also present.
A total of 11 flights from Srinagar and other Indian cities operated on Saturday, while a second batch of more than 300 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir departed on three special flights, officials said.
Pilgrims are travelling first to Madina, where many are scheduled to stay for around 10 days before proceeding to Makkah.
Ambassador Khan inspected airport facilities to ensure smooth processing of arrivals, while Indian embassy officials and community volunteers assisted pilgrims and reviewed logistical arrangements.
Pilgrims were received with traditional hospitality, including dates and Zamzam water at the immigration hall, before being transported by special buses to their accommodation.
Saudi authorities have designated six main airports to handle pilgrim arrivals this year.
A total of 175,025 pilgrims from India are expected to perform Hajj in 2026, with flights arriving in both Madina and Jeddah.
India’s Ministry of Minority Affairs has expanded digital support through the Hajj Suvidha App and introduced smart wristbands to assist with tracking and services.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah urged pilgrims to obtain official permits and follow approved procedures for entering Makkah and other holy sites, emphasising safety and the orderly conduct of rituals, officials said.
