A frontal organisation of Gujjars on Sunday appealed to the Centre and the State government to rescue nomads stranded at mountain ranges in Jammu and Kashmir due to unseasonal rain and snowfall in the last few days.
The Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF) said over three lakh to five lakh nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals are trapped at mountain ranges while they were in search for pastures for livestock during their seasonal migration since April.
“Unseasonal snowfall and heavy rain have put at high risk the lives of over three lakh to five lakh nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals along with livestock as they got trapped at different points in the mountain ranges,” TRCF secretary Javaid Rahi said in a statement here.
“We appeal to Union government and State authorities for an immediate rescue operation to save human lives,” he said.
People of these communities, who moved to upper reaches as part of their seasonal migration in April got trapped at upper reaches of Pir Panchal, Doda, Anantnag, Kulgam, Zojiala pass Jamia Gali, Pir Ki Marg, Chhapran, Upper Banihal, Wadwan, Trichhal, Mughal Road, Gurez— Macheil sector and other areas due to heavy snowfall and rainstorm over the past few days.
The main tribal migration routes of Jamiya Gali, Gora Batta, Nanansar and Ropadi Dharhal Pass were badly damaged due to heavy snowfall, he said.
The Gujjars, in the Schedule Tribe category, constitute one forth of total 11 million population of the State.
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