CHARMINAR: The draw of lots of
Haj applications, known as Qurrah, witnessed the selection of 1,154 pilgrims, who will make the trip to
Mecca in
Saudi Arabia this year.
The draw was conducted at Chowmahalla Palace where the pilgrims were selected through computerised draw of lots for free accommodation at Nizam Rubath, a pilgrim house in Mecca.
Speaking at the Qurrah, Executive Officer Telangana State Haj Committee Professor SA Shukoor said that 1,154
Haj pilgrims would be selected out of 6,647 pilgrims from the erstwhile Nizam state.
The officials who participated in the draw informed that Telangana state stood first in the matter of providing services to the Haj pilgrims.
Appreciating the efforts of SA Shukoor, who has the honour of serving Haj pilgrims for past six years, deputy chief minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali said that Saudi Arabia's plan to ferry Haj pilgrims will also start soon.
"All steps are being taken to ensure that the trip goes safely and ferrying Haj pilgrims via sea route to Jeddah will also start within a couple of years which will further help the pilgrims spend less as it is a cheaper mode of transport," Mahmood Ali said.
MA Faiz Khan, member,
Wakf Committee said that he had recently visited Saudi Arabia and initiated the efforts to acquire Rubath buildings in Madeena Munnawara, which, if completed, would be useful for the pilgrims.
Compensation for some more buildings had to be obtained from Saudi authorities, by which more buildings would be acquired for the convenience of the pilgrims, he informed.
