SRINAGAR: At least two incidents of cattle being electrocuted have been reported from Khimber area of Srinagar, with villagers alleging that negligence by the Power Development Department (PDD) has put grazing cattle at risk.
The latest incident took place on Saturday morning in Tukray Bagh, Khimber, along the road leading to Takiya Sang Rishi, where a cow grazing in the fields came into contact with an exposed electrical line near a transformer and was electrocuted.
According to residents, the electrical line has allegedly been left open and accessible by KPDCL officials, creating a serious hazard for livestock grazing in the adjoining fields.
The incident follows another similar accident in the Turay Bagh area of Khimber, according to residents, who sent Kashmir Life a video of today’s accident.
Villagers have accused the concerned department of failing to properly secure the electrical infrastructure despite being responsible for maintaining the safety of power installations. They said the repeated incidents indicate that the danger has not been adequately addressed.
Residents are seeking action against officials responsible for the alleged lapse and have also demanded compensation for the loss suffered in the twin incidents.
For many families in the area, cattle are an important source of livelihood. Villagers said cows have become increasingly expensive and that some families depend on them for their daily income by selling milk in the local market.
Residents said the loss of a cow can therefore have a significant economic impact on a household, particularly for families that depend on dairy income for their livelihood.
The villagers have urged the concerned authorities to immediately secure the exposed electrical line, inspect the transformer and surrounding power infrastructure, and take preventive measures to ensure that grazing livestock and residents are not exposed to further risk.
