Varanasi, Nov 3 (PTI) As many as 250 Haj pilgrims left for Jedda in two special flights to mark the start of Haj yatra from the region this year.

Majority of the pilgrims that boarded the flights today belonged to Azamgarh, Ghazipur and Varanasi districts in the region, ADM (City) A K Rai told PTI.

All formalities for the Haj yatra were completed in the morning and the pilgrims left for the journey on a happy note with the first flight flagged off by commissioner N S Ravi, he said.

The Haj pilgrims arrived in the city on Monday night and stayed at Haj House in Chawkaghat area.

State Haj secretary, M A Khan and other dignitaries were also present on the opening day of the Haj yatra. A number of relatives, well-wishers and close friends were also present to bid adieu to the pilgrims.