Shepherds to be rescued through Jalsu Pass

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, October 4

Following heavy snow at the Thumsar Pass, efforts will now be made to rescue shepherds trapped in the Bara Bhangal valley through the Jalsu Pass.

Jalsu is at 3,450 metres from the sea level. Though it is easier to rescue them through Jalsu than Thumsar, the trek is not safe for livestock.

SDM, Baijnath, Vikas Shukla, who is coordinating efforts to take out shepherds from the Bara Bhangal area, said there was about 8 feet snow at Thumsar. It was not safe to bring back shepherds from Thumsar. Jalsu had relatively less snow. So efforts would be made to take out shepherds along with their livestock from that pass. The Chamba administration had also been helping in operation, he said.

A team of the Kangra administration, including DC Sandeep Kumar, SP Santosh Patial, SDM, Baijnath, a doctor and DPRO, had boarded the Army helicopter and gone to Bara Bhangal with relief for the shepherds. The helicopter was supposed to make two sorties to Bara Bhangal but due to bad weather, the second sortie was cancelled.

The DC said about 3.5 quintal of foodgrain were taken to Bara Bhangal. Besides 550 ready-to-eat food packets were also supplied to the village. The panchayat had been directed to provide foodgrain to the shepherds.

He said an aerial survey of Thumsar, Kalahandi and Jalsu was conducted. Nobody was found to be trapped there. There were 22 flocks of shepherds in and around Bara Bhangal and all of them were safe, he said.

The team brought back Bhimo Devi (70) and Mangla Devi, two residents of the village, who were facing health problems. The DC also said teams were also being sent to help the shepherds. The body of shepherd Rakesh Kumar could not be retrieved as the helicopter could not land there. About 100 shepherds, along with their livestock have been trapped in the valley since September 22. The DC said the Bara Bhangal panchayat had been directed to take care of the horses of shepherds if they were not able to bring them back.