Managing Director of Hajj Corporation, Mohamed Shakeel, says the corporation has flown out 28 out of the 110 local pilgrims who were left devastated after their private Umrah group, Al-Abrar Group, cancelled their trip at the last minute.
Around 110 pilgrims had made their payments for their umrah trips for the last 15 days of Ramadan, and the group informed them that they had to cancel the trip because of the current conflict in the Middle East.
The pilgrims who paid up to MVR 45,000 to the group were supposed to fly out to Saudi Arabia last night.
Today, Shakeel confirmed via social media that some of the pilgrims whose trip was cancelled asked the Corporation for assistance yesterday evening. He said that the Corporation had made Visa arrangements, accommodations, and travel and meal bookings for 28 pilgrims as per the Corporation's quota.
Shakeel further said that these 28 pilgrims flew out to Saudi Arabia earlier this morning.
The Islamic Ministry as well as the Police, have launched an investigation into the Al-Abrar group to see if they have committed fraud.
