Mangaluru: The first batch of 628 pilgrims will be leaving for the annual pilgrimage from the International Airport at Mangaluru to Madina, starting from August 4 up to August 8.

Urban Development Minister R. Roshan Baig will be flagging off the journey of the first batch of pilgrims on Wednesday.

The number of people going on the annual Haj pilgrimage has come down across Dakshina Kannada district and also the state. The decline comes less than a year after hundreds of Haj pilgrims lost their lives following two back-to-back mishaps in Saudi Arabia.

In Dakshina Kannada and the surrounding districts alone, a total of 628 pilgrims has embarked  on the journey to Makkah, as against the 670 last year. In Karnataka,  4477 people having listed for pilgrimage this year against the quota of 5,000-odd last year.

Responding to queries, Chairman of Wakf Advisory Committee, Dakshina Kannada, S M Rasheed Haji attributed the dwindling numbers to the construction works undertaken at Mecca Madina in the year 2011. “As the works have been completed, the numbers are expected to pick up.  It was in 2015 that a direct flight service was introduced to Madina from Mangaluru International Airport. As many as 670 pilgrims had embarked on the pilgrimage last year, he said. 

Haj Officer Fairoz said, following the mishaps, the pilgrims this time have been restricted from bringing more luggage and cash and also a set of do’s and don’ts called ‘Haj Guide’ has been issued from Mumbai.

For the inauguration ceremony, Minister for Forests, Environment and Ecology B Ramanath Rai, also the district in-charge minister, Minister for Youth Empowerment and Sports and Fisheries Pramod Madhwaraj, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes and a host of other leaders are expected to be present. Kazi of Dakshina Kannada Twaqa Ahmed Musliyar and P M Ibrahim Musliyar from Udupi will grace the occasion.