Shepherd dead, another 50 feared stranded due to snow in HP

At least one shepherd died while another 50 are feared to be stranded in Dhauladhar ranges at Bara Bhangal area of Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district due to untimely and sudden snowfall, a district official said Tuesday.

A helicopter has been sought for delivery of ration for the stranded shepherds, the official said.

"We received information on Sunday of death of the shepherd Rakesh, who had gone to Dhauladhar ranges from Galogi village near Paddar in Nagrota Bagwan tehsil for grazing about 500 sheep," Kangra Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Kumar told PTI.

He said the district administration also got information on Sunday itself that about 50-60 shepherds had taken their sheep from Paddar area to Dhauladhar hills for grazing.

While Rakesh died, the others are feared to have stranded there due to sudden and untimely snowfall and are unable to cross over towards Kangra valley, he added.

"Subsequently, we formed two search and rescue teams including some family members of the stranded shepherds but they are unable to tread to ranges to locate or assist anyone due to about six feet high snow there," the official said.

A search party has returned with 35 sheep and goats and two dogs to Multhan, he added.

The DC said he has sent a request message to state chief secretary BK Agarwal to provide a helicopter for delivery of ration and ready-to-cook food stuff for the stranded shepherds till their rescue.

Kumar raised apprehension that the shepherds might have run out their food stock.