Pilgrim visits to Mata Vaishno Devi fell 27% in 2025 due to a terror attack, landslide, and security fears, despite safety improvements.

Pilgrim visits to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir dropped to 68.85 lakh in 2025, below 70 lakh and a 27% decline from 2024, due to a deadly April terror attack in Pahalgam, a major August landslide that killed 35 people and closed the route for three weeks, and ongoing security concerns. Despite these challenges, the yatra resumed after safety upgrades and increased monitoring, with April seeing the highest monthly attendance at nearly 9.8 lakh and September the lowest at 185,165 due to floods. Officials stressed safety and real-time assessments remain key to managing the pilgrimage.