Dubai: The first Air India flight carrying more than 200 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir arrived in Jeddah last night (Dec 24, 2003) for the annual Haj pilgrimage.

Incidentally it was also the first haj pilgrims' flight to arrive at the airport.

Pilgrims of the first Haj charter flight from India were received by Kamaluddin Ahmed, Ambassador of India along with Syed Akbaruddin, Consul General of India and Tanveer Ahmed, Chairman, Haj Committee of India at the Jeddah Haj Terminal.

The Indian mission in Saudi Arabia has made all arrangements to receive the first batch of Haj pilgrims.

Some 115,000 Indian pilgrims will perform Haj this year. Of these more than 70,000 are coming through the Haj Committee of India and the rest through private tour operators or are Indian nationals resident in third countries.

A total of 254 flights are being operated from 11 Indian departure points by Air-India operating 140 flights carrying 38,200 pilgrims and Saudi Arabian Airlines operating 114 flights bringing 32,800 pilgrims.