The return of Hajj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir officially begins today, with the first batch of 178 pilgrims scheduled to land at Srinagar International Airport at 8:30 PM.
Dr. Shujaat Ahmed Qureshi, CEO of the J&K Hajj Committee, said that all airport and administrative arrangements are in place. Immigration and baggage clearance may take about an hour, so families are requested to reach the airport between 9:00 and 9:30 PM to receive pilgrims with dignity.
Following the first flight, return operations will pause briefly, with the second batch expected on June 26. Return flights will continue on June 27, 28, and conclude on July 11.
Dr. Qureshi confirmed that one woman pilgrim from J&K passed away during Hajj 2025, while the rest are safe. In contrast, Hajj 2024 witnessed 98 Indian fatalities, including 10 from Kashmir—primarily due to heatstroke in Arafat and Muzdalifah.
This year, 3,606 pilgrims from J&K and Ladakh performed Hajj, including over 2,000 women and 13 without a Mahram. Around 250 were over 70 years old. Of these, 3,356 departed from Srinagar, while others used different embarkation points across India.
The first batch had departed on May 4, but flights were suspended for 10 days due to India-Pakistan tensions, resuming on May 14.
Despite a quota of 8,000, only 4,200 applications were received from J&K for Hajj 2025, reflecting a broader decline, with 2 lakh fewer pilgrims globally compared to the previous year. This year, 1.6 million Muslims performed the pilgrimage