Army Rescues 25 Bakarwals Trapped in Snowstorm in Doda’s High-Altitude Region

Bhaderwah/Jammu: In a daring operation amid harsh weather, the Indian Army rescued 25 members of the Bakarwal community who were trapped in a snowstorm along with their livestock in the upper reaches of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday.

 According to officials, dozens of tribal families were undertaking their traditional seasonal migration from the high-altitude meadows of Padder, Marwah, Dachan, and Warwan in Kishtwar district towards the plains of Kathua, Jammu, and Samba when unseasonal snowfall struck the region.

While several groups managed to reach safer areas, a number of families were caught in a blizzard around Padri Gali, Satlad, Biddi Gali, and Ganja-Goth, leaving them stranded in freezing temperatures. On receiving information, personnel of the 4 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) based in Bhaderwah launched a swift rescue operation.

Troops from the Khanni Top post, located at an altitude of around 10,000 feet, braved heavy snowfall to reach the trapped nomads. The soldiers safely evacuated 11 men, 10 women, and four children, along with their 420 livestock, including 250 sheep, 150 goats, and 20 horses, to their camp, officials said.

At the Army camp, the rescued families were provided first aid, food supplies, and other essential items to help them recover from the ordeal.

The Bakarwal families expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Army for their timely intervention. “We had given up all hope of survival, but the soldiers reached us despite the snowstorm and saved our lives,” one of the rescued nomads said.

Officials added that the operation once again highlights the Army’s commitment to humanitarian assistance and its crucial role in ensuring the safety of nomadic and tribal communities in the challenging mountainous terrain of Jammu and Kashmir.