Excelsior Correspondent
Bhadarwah, May 11: The COVID-19 lockdown may have delayed the seasonal migration of Gujjars and Bakerwals by a fortnight, but after Jammu and Kashmir administration allowed the nomadic tribes to move along with their livestock, hundreds of them have started reaching high altitude meadows of district Doda.
According to data collected by Bhadarwah Forest Division, 450 families of Bakerwal tribe from neighbouring state Punjab and Kathua district have crossed snow filled Chattargala pass located at a height of 14600 feet above sea level and entered into Bhaderwah valley along with their thousands of sheep, goats and horses since last one week.
Traditionally locals used to welcome nomadic tribes of Gujjars and Bakerwals, who have been visiting the numerous grass lands in the upper reaches of Chenab Valley since centuries, but this year, local seem to be a bit scared about their visit as they apprehend that some of them may be carriers of the deadly virus and can become an active source of spreading it in the district which otherwise is still Coronavirus free and lies in green zone.
However district administration has assured that they are taking all the precautions and repeated frisking and health checkups are being carried of every nomad who enters in the twin districts of Doda and Kishtwar either by motorable roads or by crossing high altitude passes bordering Bhaderwah valley.
“Beside police and Army, we have especially engaged Forest Department, who have been asked to maintain round the clock tight vigil at all the entrance routes in the forest area traditionally used by the nomads including snow bound Chattar-Galla pass, Kailash, Seoj and Padri Gali of Bhadarwah Forest Division”, said Dr Sagar Dattaray Doifode, DDC Doda.
Forest officials are also registering each and every nomad who enters into the district via high altitude passes and sending them to the designated hospitals for counselling, health checkup and necessary tests, only then they are issued certificates and permission to move further, Doifode added.
Meanwhile nomads who have started converging into the vast high altitude grasslands of the district maintained that they are fully aware of the danger of Coronavirus and have been taking all precautions which they have been asked to practice.
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