The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — A bear attack in Bandipora district resulted in the death of at least eighteen sheep and left twenty-five others injured during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, according to officials.

Officials disclosed that the bear attack occurred at Check Arsalan Khan village, inflicting fatalities and injuries among the livestock on the intervening night.

The authorities have confirmed the incident and stated that a team from the Wildlife Department promptly arrived at the site to assess the extent of the losses incurred due to the bear attack.

"A Wildlife Department team responded to the situation and has evaluated the damage caused by the attack," the officials added.

Authorities are working diligently to address the repercussions of the bear attack and offer necessary assistance to affected livestock owners.

UDHAMPUR — A truck carrying livestock to Kashmir met with an accident on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, leading to the death of 76 sheep. 14 sheep sustained injuries in the accident.

While divulging information about the mishap, a member of the ‘All Wholesale Mutton Dealers Association’ told the news agency KNT that the livestock truck was on its way to Valley when it met with an accident near Domail Udhampur. He said out of 100 sheep, 76 died on the spot and 24 suffered injuries.

He said the truck (HP63-E4737B) driven by one Sansar Singh, son of Jarnail Singh went out of his control and fell into a deep gorge. “The driver, conductor and one more person on board were injured in the mishap,” he said.

The livestock belonged to three persons Shabir Ahmed from Soura, Shabir Ahmed from Bandipora and Parvez Ahmed from Tral. The police confirmed the incident, saying the trio on board including the driver are stable.

PULWAMA — At least 31 sheep died after consuming toxic water in Muchpona village of south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Sunday.

The unfortunate incident took place on Sunday afternoon and immediately, a team of district veterinary doctors rushed to the spot and started treating the animals. At least 31 sheep died, while a few took ill and were being treated.

The sheep, belonging to a flock of 47, were owned by two farmers — Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir and Bashir Ahmad Rather — from Muchpona village.

Bashir Ahmad, one of the owners, told The Kashmir Pulse that the flock drank water in the afternoon and collapsed soon after. "We immediately sought help from the local animal husbandry department. The doctors tried to treat the animals but the majority of the sheep had succumbed," he added.

The farmers have suffered a loss of over five lakh rupees due to the unfortunate incident. "We have suffered a loss of at least seven lakh rupees as each sheep in the flock could sell for 25,000 rupees at least," Bashir Ahmad rued.

Imtiyaz Ahmad's father, Abdul Ahad Mir, said that the flock drank water in a local stream of water, which was contaminated. "As a result of the contaminated water, we lost over 30 sheep and many more are ill," he stated.

The owners of the flock have appealed to the local Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department and Deputy Commissioner Pulwama to intervene and help them get sufficient compensation in this connection.

GANDERBAL — A pack of stray dogs attacked and killed a herd of 13 sheep which were kept at a cow shed in Ganiwan area of central Kashmir's Ganderbal district on Tuesday.

Locals told the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a pack of stray dogs barged into the cow shed of Mubarak Ahmad Raina and killed 13 sheep on the spot and left another 14 critically injured.

Raina said that a dozen sheep were present in the shed at the time of attack that took place during the intervening night.

A team from the Sheep Husbandry Department reached the spot and took the injured sheep to a nearby facility for treatment.

Officials from Sheep Husbandry told KNO that injured sheep are being treated at the veterinary and after that, they have to submit a factual position of the incident.