GANDERBAL, May 11: In a tragic incident amid inclement weather conditions in Central Kashmir, nearly 90 sheep and goats were killed after a massive lightning strike hit a nomadic flock in the upper reaches of the Kangan area of Ganderbal district, officials said on Monday.
The incident occurred during the intervening night in the Dhana Dok area of Poshkar, a high-altitude meadow where several nomadic families from the Jammu region camp during the summer months for seasonal grazing.
Sources said the livestock belonged to Mohammad Yaseen Bijran and Abdul Majeed Bijran, residents of Rajouri district’s Sunderbani area, who had recently migrated to the meadow along with their flock.
According to locals, the area witnessed heavy thunderstorms accompanied by intense lightning activity overnight. When the nomadic family visited the grazing site on Monday morning, dozens of sheep and goats were found dead across the pasture.
The incident has caused a major economic setback to the affected family, which depends largely on livestock for livelihood and income during the annual migration season.
Officials from the local administration and police were informed immediately after the incident and later visited the spot to assess the losses and collect details.
The upper reaches of Kashmir frequently experience sudden weather changes during summer, posing serious threats to nomadic communities and their livestock stationed in remote alpine meadows. (KNC)
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