Snowbound in Dhauladhar: Gaddi shepherds stranded with flocks

Several shepherds of Gaddi community from the Holi region of Chamba district have been stranded along with their flocks near the Indrahar Pass in Dhauladhar Mountain Range following heavy snowfall over the past few days.

The stranded shepherds — identified as Vinod Kumar, Pramod, Lakha Ram, Prem Chand, Rajendra Kumar and Jino Ram — are residents of Hilling village under Kuwarsi Gram Panchayat.

The shepherds, who had moved to the high-altitude pastures of Kuwarsi Jot with over 1,500 sheep and goats during the summer, they had started their descending journey to the plains through Inderhar Pass, which connect Dharamsala in Kangra district with Holi region.

Vinod Kumar and Pramod own around 550 sheep, Lakha Ram 150, Prem Chand and Rajendra Kumar 450 and Jino Ram about 350. However, as they reached near Indrahar Pass, the weather suddenly turned hostile. Following a heavy snowfall on higher mountain pass, which continued for two to three days, covering the entire region under thick sheet of snow.

Battling bone-chilling cold, the shepherds somehow managed to save their lives, but many of their sheep and goats — including lambs and kids — went missing in the blizzard.

They fear that the missing livestock have perished under the snow, causing them heavy financial losses worth several lakhs. The stranded shepherds have appealed to the administration and the government for immediate rescue and compensation after an official assessment of their losses.

Bharmour Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Kulbir Singh Rana said he had got information about the stranded shepherds on Tuesday. A rescue team comprising volunteers from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports and revenue officials was immediately dispatched to the area. “Latest information we have got from the rescue team is that a path has to be cut through the snow to enable the shepherds to descend to safer heights,” he added. The administration is closely monitoring the situation and taking all necessary measures to ensure the safe evacuation of the trapped shepherds and their flocks.