Sikkim Seeks Army Help to Clear Snow in North District for Yak Death Count

Wepen , May 13, 2019: The district administration of the North district of Sikkim has requested the Indian army to help clear the snows to facilitate a count of yaks in the region bordering Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR.) A large number of yaks have died of starvations in North Sikkim due to heavy snowfall. The count could be the highest in recent years.

“We have asked the army to clear the snow to make the region accessible by road. Teams from the animal husbandry department and district administration have been sent to access the ground situation and locate the carcasses. We are also talking to the herders. The exact number of deaths can be ascertained by the next 10 to 15 days after tallying all the reports. After this we will start disbursing compensations. A Preliminary assessment has been made after talking to herders. The number stands at around 600 as of now and could increase” stated Raj Kumar Yadav, District Collector, North Sikkim district.
Yaks have died in Mukuthang, Gurudongmar and Yumthang at high altitudes of around 15000 feet. Owing to heavy snowfall in December, the yaks had been 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 air drop 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 vehicle followed by a 3 hour long trek.

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 silver lining is that we have received information that some yaks are alive in the lower reaches. We will rush medical teams and fodder to these areas” 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 also depend on the yaks for livelihood selling diary products including milk and cottage cheese.

“The yaks can survive will very little grass in the high altitudes. As all the grass was buried under the heavy snow and herders could not reach the yaks with fodder the yaks died of starvation. They could not move owing to heavy snowfall adding to the woes” stated Sonam Norgay Lachungpa, President, Travel Agents’ Association of Sikkim. Lachungpa’s family originated from the Lachung region of North Sikkim and also owns yaks.