IMPHAL, Sept 28: Manipur Chief Minister O IBobi Singh will flag off the first phase of Mecca pilgrims from the state tomorrow.
Speaking to IFP, State Haj Committee, executive officer and secretary Wahidur Rahman said 198 pilgrims will be leaving for the holy place during the first phase tomorrow.
Although altogether 400 pilgrims were originally supposed to be part of the pilgrim, 12 of them have withdrawn themselves citing ill health.
The first phase will be leaving the state in batches tomorrow.
The first batch will leave from the Imphal Airport at 12:30pm followed by another batch on a 2:10pm Jet Airways flight followed by a 3:10pm Kingfisher flight.
He further said that the pilgrims after touching down at Guwahati will fly directly for Medina, Saudi Arabia.
After attending eight days of religious rituals at Medina the pilgrims will further continue to Mecca which is around 400 kms from Medina.
He continued that the second phase of pilgrims will leave the state on September 30.