Srinagar, May 11: Chairperson of the Hajj Committee Ladakh, Haji Mohd Ali Majaz, Sunday urged the Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, to make immediate arrangements for over 240 Hajj pilgrims from Ladakh who are stranded in Srinagar in the wake up closure of airport following India and Pakistan hostilities.
The pilgrims, many of them elderly and first-time travellers, have been stuck in the city for more than a week following repeated cancellations of their flights from the Srinagar embarkation point. In a formal letter to the Ministry, Haji Majaz underscored the mounting hardship faced by the group, citing escalating accommodation costs, health concerns, and emotional distress among the pilgrims.
“This delay is not just logistical, it’s deeply spiritual,” said Majaz. “These pilgrims have prepared for years to undertake this sacred journey, and every passing day adds to their anxiety.”
To avoid further disruption, the Chairperson has requested the Centre to arrange alternative flights for the group via the Delhi embarkation point, beginning May 13. He emphasised that such a move would not only safeguard the spiritual aspirations of the pilgrims but also reflect the government’s commitment to supporting remote communities.
