Lightning struck in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, resulting in the death of 90 sheep and goats owned by a nomadic family from Rajouri district. The incident occurred in a high-altitude forest area of Poshkar Kangan. The livestock belonged to Mohmmad Yaseen Bijran and Abdul Majeed Bijran, residents of Rajouri district.
The Dhana Dok area of Poshkar, a remote grazing belt, experienced intense weather activity during the night, leading to the discovery of numerous dead animals in the pasture the next morning. Preliminary reports indicate that lightning caused the fatalities. This event has inflicted significant financial loss on the affected family, whose livelihood revolves around livestock rearing and seasonal migration for grazing.
Authorities were notified about the incident, and an assessment of the damage was conducted. Such occurrences are not unusual in the higher regions of Jammu and Kashmir during the summer migration season when nomadic families travel with their livestock to alpine pastures susceptible to sudden weather changes, thunderstorms, and lightning strikes.
Scores of nomadic goatherds known as ‘Bakarwals’ migrate from the plains to the Valley’s highland pastures with their families, livestock, and belongings during the summer months. These resilient individuals trek hundreds of miles on foot annually between their winter homes in various districts to care for their livestock.
The government has established amenities for Bakarwal families, including mobile schools for their children and regular visits by veterinary professionals to provide services to both the livestock and the people. Despite their high milk consumption, Bakarwals rarely suffer from lifestyle diseases due to their active lifestyle. Each Bakarwal family is accompanied by specially bred shepherd dogs that protect their livestock from predators like leopards, bears, and jackals.
