STAVROPOL. Feb 11 (Interfax-AVN) - As many as 480 pilgrims going on hajj passed through checkpoints of the North Caucasus regional border guard department on Sunday, the department's press service told Interfax-Military News Agency.
A total of 1,800 pilgrims have left Russia for Saudi Arabia this year, the press service said.
The department is taking urgent measures to maintain flawless operation of checkpoints despite the growing number of people leaving the country.
According to some sources, 5,500 pilgrims are planning to cross the Russian border through ground checkpoints before Tuesday. Another 1,500 people are planning to go to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi authorities have fixed the deadline for pilgrims' arrival in the country at Saturday, the press service said.