Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Sept 13: The “unexpected” drop in temperature in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir has forced thousands of those belonging to nomadic Gujjar and Bakerwal communities to prepone their downward journey as they were facing acute shortage of fodder for their livestock.
“The unusually low temperatures in the hilly and mountainous tracks of northwestern Himalayas have led to thousands of Gujjars and Bakerwals to prepone their downward journey along with their livestock”, said Javaid Rahi, secretary, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation.
He added the nomads, who usually migrate to lower region in the middle or end of October, decided to move towards warmer areas early as they were facing acute shortage of fodder for their cattle due to sudden fall in temperature.
“The grass pastures have dried up due to the “unusually” low temperature which forced nomadic Gujjar Bakerwals to move towards lower areas”, he stated.
“This is for the first time when the nomadic Gujjars- Bakerwals have started moving towards warmer areas of Jammu and Kashmir ahead of their schedule. They usually start their migration to warmer areas in mid-October along with their cattle and stay in low-lying areas for around six months”, Rahi said.
“Tribal migration is an annual feature for nomads as they start their annual journey to upper reaches in mid March and April in search of greener pastures for their livestock. But this year, the Gujjars and Bakerwals had to return from Shivalik, Pir Panjal and Zojila mountains ranges of Western Himalayas to plain areas in first week of September which is quite unusual”, Rahi said, adding that it usually takes 40 to 50 days for a tribal family to migrate from hilly areas to a warmer area along with their livestock.
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