HELP AT HAND: Haj pilgrims being assisted in filling application forms by volunteers at the Haj House. — PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

Hyderabad: Draw of lots (qurrah) for finalising the pilgrims for Haj 2007 appears inevitable if the mad rush for application forms is any indication. Till Wednesday, the State Haj Committee has issued more than 7,000 application forms. With a good 23 days left for the issue of forms to close, the number of applications are expected to touch the 15,000 mark.

The Central Haj Committee has recently increased the State quota of pilgrims from 4,955 to 5,435. But the additional 480 seats are considered woefully inadequate in view of the tremendous enthusiasm among people to undertake the pilgrimage.

Qurrah a certainty

"Holding of qurrah has become a certainty. We will do it probably between July 8 to 10 and finalise the list of pilgrims by July 16", said Hafiz Peer Shabbir Ahmed, Chairman of State Haj Committee.

Last year itself the Saudi Government had increased the Indian quota by 10,000 seats.

But Andhra Pradesh did not get its share as most of the seats were lapped up by Kashmir pilgrims. This time the State is given additional quota of 480 seats.

A total 1.50 lakh pilgrims from India will performs Haj this year, including 40,000 through private tour operators.

In just six days the State Haj Committee has exhausted the first lot of 7,000 application forms.

Photostat copies

On Wednesday it received another 3,000 forms. In view of the heavy rush, it is decided to accept even photostat copies of the application form. The Haj Committee itself is suppling Photostat copies of the applications and issuing them to the pilgrims.

So far a maximum of 4,000 application forms are issued in the State Capital itself followed by 350 in Mahbubnagar and 300 each in Kadapa, Nizamabad and Kurnool.

The number of application forms issued in other districts are: Anantapur (250), Nalgonda (200), Adilabad, Guntur, Medak (150) each, Chittoor (130), Karimnagar (125), East Godavari and Vijayawada (100) each, Prakasham (75), Vishakapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and Nellore (70) each and Khamam (65).

Filled in applications

The Haj Committee has received 1,200 filled in applications till date. The flow of forms is expected to increase during the last week of the month.

Mohmmaed Owais, Chief Executive Officer of Haj Committee of India, who was here the other day, appreciated the arrangements made to provide banking and medical facilities to the pilgrims, all under one roof.

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