Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Dec 7: As per telephonic information received by the relatives of several Haj pilgrims, the first batch of the Haj pilgrims from the city, who were to leave for their hometown from Jeddah two days ago, continued to get stranded at Jeddah airport. As per the Haj Committee plans, they were to leave Jeddah airport by a flight to the city on Sunday and reach here the same night. As the flight did not arrive till Monday late evening, the pilgrims, who could not get proper food or rest, had to suffer a lot, it is learnt.

All the 220 pilgrims are facing the same problem. They are eager to reach their home at the earliest after a long journey, and the prices of food items at Jeddah airport are out of reach for them. They cannot leave the airport, and the money they had with them at the beginning, has been spent. The pilgrims are blaming the Haj Committee for their woes.

Some of the pilgrims could put across messages to union minister for foreign affairs, S M Krishna, and law minister, M Veerappa Moily, and they have been informed that arrangements would be made to take them home by Monday night. On Monday evening, the Haj Committee told them that they would reach the city by Tuesday morning.