Srinagar, Apr 14 — A total of 4,704 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir will undertake the annual Hajj this year, with the majority set to depart from Srinagar embarkation point starting April 18, officials said.
Executive Officer of the Hajj Committee of India, Dr. Shujat Ahmed, said 3,990 pilgrims—including 323 from Ladakh—will leave via Srinagar, while around 1,000 will depart from Delhi and about 50 from Mumbai.
“The first batch of flights from Srinagar is scheduled to begin on April 18 and will continue for 10 to 15 days. The final departure is expected around May 28, subject to minor adjustments,” Ahmed said.
He said new regulations introduced by Saudi authorities this year include stricter health screening norms, with some applicants declared unfit due to serious medical conditions.
In a change from previous arrangements, pilgrims will be provided smartwatches with SIM-based data for monitoring and assistance, replacing earlier wristbands. Self-cooking facilities in areas such as Azizia have also been discontinued, he added.
Ahmed said ongoing maintenance work at Srinagar airport has impacted flight operations, reducing aircraft capacity from 189 passengers to around 145 and cutting baggage allowance from 40 kg to 25 kg.
“As a result, flights from Srinagar will include mandatory refuelling halts in Delhi, leading to rescheduling of departures,” he said.
He added that pilgrims from Jammu division and Ladakh will be accommodated at Hajj House Srinagar prior to departure, where arrangements for stay and logistics have been put in place. Immigration formalities will be completed in Srinagar before flights proceed to Madinah with a technical halt in Delhi.