Helicopter service at Mata Vaishno devi shrine resumes after 7-day halt

Helicopter services to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir, resumed on Wednesday after a week-long suspension. The suspension was a result of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. This resumption coincided with the reopening of flight services at 32 airports, including those in Jammu and Srinagar, following the de-escalation of the situation between the neighboring countries.

The official from the shrine board confirmed that, although the helicopter service had been temporarily halted, electric vehicle transportation for devotees continued to operate without disruption. The shrine has seen a noticeable decline in pilgrim numbers since the start of May 2025, with fewer visitors compared to last year. Since January 2025, over 30 lakh devotees have visited the shrine, a stark contrast to the 94.84 lakh visitors recorded during the same period in 2024.

Despite the decrease in footfall, the resumption of helicopter services has raised hopes for an increase in the number of pilgrims visiting the shrine. Shubam Kumar, a devotee from Delhi, expressed his satisfaction, stating, "We are happy about the resumption of the helicopter service and the arrangements made by the shrine board." With improved transportation options in place, authorities expect a significant rise in visitor numbers over the coming months.