Over 600 yaks die of starvation after snowfall in Sikkim

Darjeeling: Hundreds of yaks have died of starvation in North Sikkim due to heavy snowfall. The count could be the highest in recent years, officials said. The district administration has asked the army to help clear the snow so that an exact count can be made.

"We have talked to the Yak herders. Teams from the animal husbandry department and district administration have been sent to access the ground situation and locate the carcasses. We have asked the army to clear the snow. The exact number of deaths can be ascertained by the next 10 to 15 days after tallying all the reports. A preliminary assessment has been made after talking to herders. The number stands at around 600 as of now and could increase further," stated Raj Kumar Yadav, District Collector, North Sikkim district.

Yaks have died in Mukuthang, at an altitude of 15,000 feet along with Gurudongmar and Yumthang. Owing to heavy snowfall, the yaks were left behind with the herders managing to escape to lower altitudes. The yaks were stranded in these high altitude areas and died of starvation.

Attempts to airdrop fodder from helicopters were not successful. To reach Mukuthang valley from the Sikkim capital of Gangtok one has to take a 5-hour ride by a vehicle followed by a 3 hours long trek.

"However we have received information that some yaks are alive in the lower reaches. As soon as we can confirm this we will rush medical teams," added the Collector.

The stipulated compensation amount is Rs. 30,000 per yak. However, there is a sealing of compensation for three yaks per herder. There are around 50 herders, stated Yadav.

The death of the yaks will have an impact as they are used by the army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the local residents as pack animals in the high altitude areas. The herders depend on them for livelihood selling dairy products including milk and cottage cheese.