‘Each pilgrim to get SIM-enabled smartwatch for tracking, coordination’
Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Apr 13 :
Hajj flights from Srinagar are scheduled to commence from April 18 and continue till May 20, with a total of 4,704 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir set to undertake the pilgrimage this year.
Executive Officer of the Hajj Committee, Dr Shujat Ahmed, informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that 3,990 pilgrims will depart via Srinagar embarkation, including 323 from Ladakh, while 1,000 pilgrims will travel through Delhi and 50 through Mumbai.
He said the flights will operate for around 10–15 days from Srinagar, with schedules subject to adjustments due to operational requirements.
Ahmed said new guidelines issued by Saudi authorities include stricter health screening, under which pilgrims with serious conditions such as renal failure, those on dialysis, or with cardiac issues have been screened out.
“Self-cooking facilities have been discontinued this year, and pilgrims will instead be provided food arrangements,” he said, adding that each pilgrim will be issued a smartwatch with a SIM-enabled tracking system for monitoring and coordination purposes.
Due to ongoing repair work at Srinagar airport, flights will operate with reduced passenger capacity, leading to refuelling halts in Delhi before proceeding to Madinah, the officer said.
He said the luggage allowance has also been reduced from 40 kg to 25 kg.
Ahmed said accommodation facilities have been arranged at the Hajj House for pilgrims arriving from distant areas, including Jammu and Ladakh, allowing them to stay ahead of their scheduled departures—(KNO)