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Most stranded shepherds, livestock rescued

DHARAMSALA: Nineteen groups of shepherds have been rescued from the Bara Bhangal valley till the filing of this report.

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Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, October 18

Nineteen groups of shepherds have been rescued from the Bara Bhangal valley till the filing of this report. The groups, including about 90 shepherds and 10,000 livestock, safely reached Rajgundha, a place about 16 km from Bir in Baijnath.

SDM, Baijnath, Vikas Shukla said most of the shepherds had been rescued. Three groups were heading for Chamba from the Jalsu Pass. A track had been created across Muraladhar from where the remaining shepherds could go, he said.

Sources said rescue teams, including seven instructors from the mountaineering institute of Dharamsala, revenue officials and some volunteers, led by Akshay Jasrotia, had also come out of the valley. A team was also resting at Rajgundha.

All rescued shepherds would reach their homes in Bir in two days.

The SDM claimed that about 90 per cent of the rescue operation had been completed. Since the trench had been created, now the remaining shepherds could also cross Muraladhar within two or three days.

Earlier, the SDM had said the operation to retrieve the body of the deceased shepherd, Rakesh Kumar, had been abandoned as there was heavy snow in the area. The focus  was on rescuing the shepherds along with their livestock. The weather was predicted to be favourable for the next two days, so they were hopeful that all shepherds would be brought out safely, he said.

The Shepherds Mahasabha had maintained that many shepherds had lost their livestock in snow.  There were reports that about 500 sheep had perished. However, the exact figure would come to light after all shepherds were out of the valley. The mahasabha had written to CM Jai Ram Thakur that a compensation should be given to the shepherds. The shepherds have been trapped in the valley since September 21. 

Early snow had blocked Thumsar, the traditional route followed by the shepherds to come out of the valley.

They move into the valley for grazing their livestock in April and start moving back to Kangra in the middle of September. However, this year due to early snow, the shepherds had been trapped in the valley. 

Muraladhar lies on a peak adjoining the Thumsar Pass. While Thumsar is located at a height of 4,800 metres, Muraladhar is about 4,500 metres.

How team of experts managed the rescue

Panhaltu, the assembly point

A well-equipped rescue team of 24 members from the mountaineering institute, Dharamsala, reached Panhaltu, a place near Muraladhar Pass, where shepherds were told to assemble.

3 am, climb started

The rescue team used to start climbing up to Muraladhar from Panhaltu at 3 am everyday and reached there around 6.30 am. It took them about three-and-a-half-hours to climb up to Muraladhar from Panhaltu.

6.30 am, digging began

The team used to dig snow for about three hours from 6.30 am and began returning at 9.30 am.

12 noon, blizzard threat

The team could not stay at the pass after 12 noon because the strong icy winds started blowing after that 

1-km trench dug in four days

The team took about four days to dig the trench of about one km across the Muraladhar Pass that facilitated the shepherds' rescue. 

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