Hajj pilgrims from Ladakh dip from 475 to 357 this year, says official

Srinagar, Feb 09 :- Authorities in Ladakh Friday said that a total of 357 pilgrims including three women without Mehram from the region will perform Hajj this year.

Compared to last year, the pilgrims will be little less this year as a total of 475 pilgrims from Ladakh performed Hajj last year.

The applications for Hajj 2024 were invited last year and dates were also extended by competent authority for the ease of the public.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Ali Majaz Chairman of Hajj Committee Union Territory of Ladakh said that a total of 357 applications were received and given the quota all of them will head to perform Hajj once the schedule is announced.

He said that the majority of the applicants are from Kargil district.

A total of 357 applications including 285 from Kargil and 72 from Leh district were received this year.

The Chairman said that this year three women will undertake the holy journey without a Mahram.

He informed that four persons above the age of 70 years are also among the pilgrims.

The Chairman expressed satisfaction saying that since the inception of Hajj Committee Ladakh separately over a year ago quota for the region has also been increased to which people have responded very positively.

Further, the chairman also praised Hajj Committee of J&K and administration for their cooperation given that the embarkation point for Ladakh pilgrims is in Srinagar.

“We don’t have a passport center in Kargil forcing aspirants to travel to Leh or Srinagar to avail the facilities. We have multiple times approached the authorities for Passport Kendra and hopefully the issue will be resolved,” he added—(KNO)