Vaishno Devi yatra picks up pace as India-Pakistan ceasefire holds and flights resume

Vaishno Devi

With the ceasefire between India and Pakistan continuing to hold steady along the international border and the Line of Control (LoC), the flow of pilgrims to the revered Vaishno Devi shrine has begun gaining momentum once again, according to a report by The Indian Express.

In a clear sign of returning normalcy, nearly 4,000 pilgrims are said to have registered at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board’s counter in Katra town within 24 hours ending 10 pm on Tuesday. By 4 pm on Wednesday, the number had already touched 4,000 again and officials expected the figure to double to 8,000 by nightfall.

A shrine board official was quoted as saying by The Indian Express that until April 22, the number of daily pilgrims ranged between 30,000 and 35,000 but the numbers began dipping after the Pahalgam attack. The attack, followed by heightened border tensions in the wake of India’s May 7 strikes on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan, had sharply impacted the yatra. Daily footfall had dropped to just around 2,000 in the days following the attack.

However, with the situation easing and peace prevailing on both sides of the border, officials say the mood among pilgrims is gradually turning hopeful. The return of flights has also played a significant role in facilitating travel. While only one Delhi-Jammu-Srinagar flight operated on Tuesday, a senior official at Jammu airport confirmed that more flights would be added based on passenger demand.

#JammuAndKashmir- Heli services resumed at Vaishno Devi Shrine following Ceasefire between #India and #Pakistan; number of devotees visiting the holy shrine has seen a steady increase.#NationAboveAll#IndiaFirst#SaluteOurForces@airnewsalerts@dioreasi1Video credit: @devjmupic.twitter.com/UFtb8j2CWc

Akashvani News Jammu (@radionews_jammu) May 14, 2025

Helicopter services from Katra to Sanji Chat — located near the Vaishno Devi shrine — were also restored on Wednesday, giving a further push to the yatra. “Heli services resumed at Vaishno Devi shrine following ceasefire between India and Pakistan; number of devotees visiting the holy shrine has seen a steady increase,” the Akashvani News Jammu posted on X.

Additionally, the Jammu and Kashmir administration is reported to have reopened educational institutions that are not located in sensitive zones along the border or the LoC, signalling a broader return to routine life in the region.