A Haj pilgrim embraces her relative at Gaya international airport on Sunday. Picture by Suman

The first batch of Haj pilgrims from the state flew out for Mecca on Sunday amid tears and best wishes from friends and relatives.

The flight took off at 8.28am from Gaya international airport. In the first batch, 129 pilgrims boarded the Air India flight. The second flight took off around 11am carrying the same number of people.

The Haj flight schedule will continue till October 9, during which, around 6,000 pilgrims are expected to reach Mecca, around 4,000 short of the quota of 10,000 from the state.

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe welfare minister Jitan Ram Manjhi was at Gaya airport on Sunday morning to see off the first batch of the pilgrims.

Gaya district magistrate Balamurugan D., senior superintendent of police Nishant Kumar Tiwari, orthopaedic surgeon Farasat Hussain and Gaya District Sports Association secretary A.M. Karimi were also present.

Bihar State Madarsa Education Board chairperson Mumtaz Alam, who has been made convener of the Gaya embarkation points for the pilgrims, said: “People who boarded the first flight started from Patna around 11pm in five buses and reached Gaya around 2am today (Sunday). Other pilgrims used private vehicles and reached here by 5am. They were provided with boarding cards and underwent immigration and custom clearances before boarding the plane. Each pilgrim was provided 2,100 Riyal from the amount they had deposited for the Haj pilgrimage.”

Mohsi Karimi, an official involved in preparations for the Haj pilgrims at Gaya airport, said: “Elaborate arrangements have been made at the Gaya airport for the pilgrims. A control room, a health camp, and a police picket have been set up on the airport premises near the terminal building. A tent has also been put up for pilgrims to take rest. Around 300 foldable cots and cushions have been provided.”