SRINAGAR: The number of pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir undertaking the Hajj pilgrimage has seen a significant decline, with official figures indicating a 70 per cent drop over the past two years.
Only 3,624 pilgrims from the region are expected to travel for Hajj in 2025, down from 7,008 in 2024. In 2023, 12,079 individuals had made the pilgrimage from JK.
Officials said the decline is due to multiple factors, including the rising cost of travel following the withdrawal of government subsidies, the absence of foreign airlines in this year’s operations, and growing concerns over extreme summer temperatures in Saudi Arabia.
In addition to the JK pilgrims, 242 individuals from Ladakh are also scheduled to perform Hajj this year. Flights from Srinagar International Airport are expected to commence on 4 May and continue until 15 May.
A total of 13 flights are planned from Srinagar, and an additional flight carrying 440 pilgrims will depart from New Delhi, officials added.
After a brief surge in 2023, Hajj pilgrim numbers have fallen sharply. From 12,079 pilgrims in 2023, the figure dropped by 42 per cent in 2024 and is expected to decline by another 48 per cent in 2025 — amounting to a 70 per cent reduction over two years.
In 2022, the combined figure for JK and Ladakh was around 6,000, marking a relatively stable post-pandemic period. Hajj was suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19.
The official Hajj quota for JK in 2024 was 8,200, but only 8,147 applications were received, and 7,008 individuals undertook the pilgrimage.
Officials also noted that approximately 3,000 pilgrims from JK choose to travel via private operators annually — a trend that has remained consistent since 2015.
“With the soaring cost of travel and the absence of foreign airlines, the number of pilgrims from J&K has significantly decreased. Additionally, concerns over extreme heat in Saudi Arabia have discouraged many from undertaking the pilgrimage this year,” another official said. (KNO)
