SRINAGAR: Panic gripped the Dobjan area of Shopian district in south Kashmir after dozens of sheep died, allegedly due to medicines administered by the Sheep Husbandry Department.
Mauzam-ud-Din Khatana, a resident of Rajouri and a member of the nomadic Bakarwal community said that his livestock were healthy, apart from fatigue caused by seasonal migration. “As usual, I took them to the Sheep Husbandry camp for routine medication. After administering the department-provided medicines, the sheep began collapsing one by one. Within hours, dozens had died, and several remain missing,” he said.
Claiming total loss of livelihood, Khatana alleged a delayed response from the department, which he said led to the deaths. “These medicines ruined everything. I called for help, but no one came,” he said, breaking down. “Just poison me, kill me too… my children are now without support,” he said.
Mauzam-ud-Din said the sheep were fine before the dose. “Afterwards, they started collapsing one after another. We have lost over 25 sheep, which is a significant loss for us. We demand justice and accountability,” he said.
The family, along with locals, has called for a transparent investigation into the matter, along with immediate support for those affected.
An official from the Sheep Husbandry Department in Shopian said, “We have formed an investigation team to conduct post-mortems on the deceased sheep and determine the exact cause. Our team responded promptly upon receiving the report.”
However, the Bakarwal community disputed the department’s claim, alleging negligence and delay, which they say contributed to the tragedy. (GNS)
