Srinagar, April 18 -- There has been around 50% decline in the number of pilgrims who will be performing Haj from Jammu and Kashmir this year as compared to 2024, officials said citing costlier Haj rates owing to discontinuation of subsidy, non-participation of foreign airlines and high temperatures as the reason.

The Haj-2025 flights from Jammu and Kashmir will commence from May 4 with over 3,624 pilgrims expected to perform the annual pilgrimage this year down from 7,008 pilgrims who went for Haj last year.

Officials said that a majority of the flights will operate from Srinagar International Airport to Saudi Arabia.

"As many as 3,624 pilgrims from J&K and 242 from Ladakh will perform Haj this year," said Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, execu...