PATNA: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday gave a warm send-off to the first batch of haj pilgrims from Bihar and wished them a safe journey. After the ‘dua’ (prayer) proceeding conducted by Maulana Shamim Ahmed Munami of Kanekah Munamiya Mitan Ghat at Haj Bhawan, the CM urged the pilgrims to pray for peace and prosperity in the state and country.Meanwhile, a delegation of the Bihar State Haj Committee met minority welfare minister Khurshid alias Firoj Ahmad at Haj Bhawan on Friday and discussed issues related to facilities being extended to the pilgrims. The first batch of pilgrims will leave for Saudi Arabia from Gaya International airport on July 14.Around 150 pilgrims will leave for Gaya from Patna in air-conditioned buses at 10am on Saturday.The first flight of pilgrims is scheduled to take off from Gaya airport at 4.05pm on Saturday and it will reach to Medina at 9.45pm.This year, 4,798 pilgrims from Bihar will leave on 45-day haj pilgrimage and the last flight will leave on July 28. The first batch of hajis will return on August 28.Minority welfare minister Khurshid said heavy police personnel have been deployed at Gaya airport for security purpose. “The pilgrims will be escorted by the police officials to Gaya guesthouse. Proper arrangements for food, lodging and medical needs have been made. Principal secretary of minority welfare department Amir Subhani is looking after the arrangements,” Khurshid said.He added of the 5,159 applications received for haj pilgrimage, 362 were cancelled due to various reasons. Last year, 6,484 pilgrims had left for Mecca and Medina from the state. The minister, however, dismissed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) angle behind the decline in number of pilgrims.

Stay updated with all the Latest Patna headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.