Tanveer Hussain
Budgam, May 1: In an incident triggered by a landslide in the Ichkoot area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, 11 sheep belonging to a local shepherd were buried alive, leaving the community in grief and frustration.
The sheep, owned by Abdul Rashid Choopan, were caught in the sudden landslide. While 12 sheep were trapped under the debris, only one survived the incident, locals told the news agency Kashmir News Trust.
Residents of Ichkoot expressed deep concern over the recurring threat of landslides in the area and blamed official apathy for the latest loss. “This village has always been vulnerable to landslides, and we have been urging the administration to regulate sand mining and implement preventive measures,” said a local resident. “But no government has taken our appeals seriously.”
The villagers said unchecked sand extraction, combined with fragile terrain, has worsened the situation in recent years, increasing the likelihood of such disasters.
Locals appealed to the Budgam district administration to offer immediate financial relief to the affected family and take long-term steps to safeguard the area from future landslides. [KNT]
