The Mata Vaishno Devi shrine saw pilgrim footfall drop sharply to 68.85 lakh by December 28, missing the 70-lakh mark amid security scares and natural disasters. Officials expect around 70,000 more visits before year-end due to New Year rush, but this represents a 27.4% decline from 2024’s 94.84 lakh record.
Key disruptions included April’s Pahalgam terror attack killing 26, triggering Operation Sindoor against Pakistan terror sites, and an August 26 landslide near Katra that claimed 35 lives, halting the yatra for three weeks during peak season.
Shrine board prioritizes safety with track repairs, enhanced surveillance, and weather monitoring, resuming after audits. April peaked at 9.81 lakh visitors, while flood-hit September bottomed at 1.85 lakh; December tallies 4.71 lakh so far.
Monthly Footfall Breakdown (2025):
| Month | Pilgrims |
|---|---|
| April | 9,81,228 |
| March | 9,40,143 |
| June | 9,26,263 |
| July | 6,77,652 |
| January | 5,69,164 |
| August | 5,33,756 |
| December | 4,71,396 |
| November | 4,23,553 |
| May | 4,13,365 |
| October | 3,84,952 |
| February | 3,78,865 |
| September | 1,85,165 |
Historically, footfall surged from 13.95 lakh in 1986 to 1.04 crore peak in 2012, but dipped during Amarnath row (2008), Article 370 changes (2019), and COVID closure (2020: 17 lakh low).
