Winter migration from Johar valley ends

Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 7

The winter migration of villagers from Johar valley in Pithoragarh district has come to an end as the last batch of Milam villagers reached Patalthaur migration camp, near Thal town, after a month’s travel.

“We started migrating from our village of Milam almost a month ago, and reached here after travelling with our sheep and animal herd. We will reach our winter destinations of migration in Terai region, in the last week of this month,” said Kunwar Singh, a villager accompanying the herd.

The migrating villagers said they had to remain alert all over nights as wild animals attack their animals and sheep. “Though we have pet dogs to protect our herd but the herdsman had to become alert when the dog barks sensing any crisis on the herd during night time,” said Kunwar Singh.

According to migrating villagers, they have locked their traditional houses in high Himalayan villages and have kept some old men for security purpose. “When we will return from migration in the month of April, we will cultivate our fields and begin extracting wool from our sheep,” said villagers.