359 Hajj Pilgrims from Kloter 17 Debarkasi Banjarmasin Arrive in Indonesia

A total of 359 Hajj pilgrims from Kloter 17, part of the Banjarmasin Debarkasi, have safely returned to Indonesia. The group, comprising pilgrims from South and Central Kalimantan, arrived at Syamsuddin Noor Airport in Banjarmasin on Sunday afternoon in good health.

The arrival marks a significant step towards the completion of the Hajj operational period for pilgrims from these regions this year. Upon landing at approximately 3:00 PM local time, the pilgrims were received at the Hajj dormitory in Banjarbaru. They were provided with meals before being dispatched to their home districts and cities.

According to H Eddy Khairani, the Head of the Hajj Pilgrimage Organizing Committee (PPIH) for Debarkasi Banjarmasin, the pilgrims originated from various areas, including 292 from Barito Kuala Regency, 52 from Banjarmasin City, four from Kotabaru, two each from Tabalong and Hulu Sungai Utara, and one from Tanah Bumbu, along with six Hajj officers. While 12 pilgrims required wheelchair assistance, Khairani confirmed their overall health was generally good.

This return journey followed their departure from Madinah's Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport. Local governments have arranged transportation to ensure the pilgrims reach their homes safely. The arrival of Kloter 17 brings the total number of returning Hajj pilgrims from Debarkasi Banjarmasin to 6,089. This year, Embarkasi Banjarmasin facilitated the departure of 19 Kloters, with 14 from South Kalimantan and five from Central Kalimantan, totaling 6,804 prospective Hajj pilgrims. Two Kloters are still in Saudi Arabia.