Amarnath Yatra 2025: Why pilgrims won’t get helicopter rides this year

The Home Department, acting on directives from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, has prohibited all aviation platforms - including helicopters, drones, UAVs and even balloons - from operating along the Pahalgam and Baltal routes between July 1 and August 10, 2025. (File image)

The Jammu and Kashmir government has declared all routes to the Amarnath shrine as ‘no-fly zones’ for this year’s pilgrimage, effectively suspending helicopter services for the first time in years. The decision, announced by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), comes amid heightened security measures following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in April, which killed 26 people.

The Home Department, acting on directives from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, has prohibited all aviation platforms - including helicopters, drones, UAVs and even balloons - from operating along the Pahalgam and Baltal routes between July 1 and August 10, 2025, The Tribune reported.

“Pilgrims may reach the Holy Cave on foot or avail services such as ponies and palkis throughout the yatra,” the SASB stated in its official notification.

The decision follows the April 22 terror attack at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 25 tourists and a local guide. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Prime Minister Narendra Modi has since stated that terrorism will be treated as an act of war, though the operation has been paused for now.

For this year’s yatra, 581 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) will be reportedly deployed to safeguard pilgrims.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the move “strange”, questioning the lack of transparency around the intelligence inputs behind the decision. “This is the first time in many years that helicopter services are not being permitted from the Pahalgam and Baltal routes. It certainly raises concerns,” Abdullah told reporters in Srinagar, quoted The Tribune.

The yatra, one of India’s most significant religious pilgrimages, draws lakhs of devotees annually. This year’s restrictions mark a major shift in logistics, with authorities prioritising security over convenience.