Poonch, Nov 5, KNT: Around 40 sheep and goats were killed after lightning struck a high-altitude grazing area in Poonch district, leaving a poor Bakarwal herder devastated. The incident occurred late Tuesday night when the flock belonging to Khalid Hussain, a nomadic herder, was resting in an open pasture during a sudden thunderstorm.
According to locals, the lightning strike was so powerful that it instantly killed dozens of animals grazing in the upper reaches. The Bakarwal family had recently moved to the higher altitudes of Poonch with their livestock as part of the traditional seasonal migration.
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Locals said that Khalid Hussain, son of Muhammad Rafiq, a resident of Hadi Bari Baik, who solely depends on livestock for livelihood, has lost nearly his entire flock in the incident, causing him severe financial distress.
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Officials from the Sheep Husbandry and Revenue Departments visited the site to assess the damage. “We are preparing a detailed loss report and will recommend compensation under the norms applicable for natural calamities,” said an official from the district administration.
Locals in the area have urged the government to provide immediate financial assistance to the affected family, noting that such incidents are becoming increasingly common in hilly regions during sudden weather changes.
The lightning strike comes amid intermittent snowfall and thunderstorms reported in parts of Pir Panjal and upper Rajouri–Poonch belt over the past two days. [KNT]
