SRINAGAR: A livestock, which among animals and birds included four buffaloes, was charred to death in a massive fire incident at Sangiaote Gursai of Poonch district on intervening Sunday and Monday night, officials said. 

They told GNS that a cattle shed of one Khadam Hussain son of Lal Hussain caught fire last night at Chandyal Sangiaote, resulting in death of livestock.

The livestock, the official said, included four buffaloes, a pair of ox, three goats and four sheep besides a flock of birds. 

SHO Gursai confirming the incident to GNS said that a team was sent to collect further details regarding the tragic mishap. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: District administration Anantnag has launched a widescale rescue operation to evacuate nearly twenty families stuck alongside their livestock at Margan Top in Kokernag area, amid ongoing inclement weather conditions across the region. 

"A joint rescue operation comprising of revenue, police, army, CRPF, Medical, ASH, SRTC was launched to respond to distress call at Nawkan, near Margan Top", SDM Kokernag, who is leading the rescue operation under the overall supervision of DC Anantnag, told GNS over phone. 

"It is estimated that there are some 10 to 20 families with livestocks stuck there", the official said adding they have so far rescued 2 dozen people and around 20 farm animals.

"Another team is on way with JCB machinery to tackle any eventuality", the official said. 

"We have established a temporary shelter at Gawran and also a medical camp through army as a contingency measure", the official added. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department (APD), Atal Dulloo, today chaired the UT Level Approval and Monitoring Committee (AMC) meeting of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to finalise the action plan of PMMSY 2023-24 for the Fisheries Department.

The meeting shared the achievements of the department with the ACS and it was revealed that fish production increased by 28% between the years 2019-20 and 2022-23.

Addressing the officers during the meeting, the ACS emphasized on setting up more trout hatcheries, mini feed mills, fish kiosks besides the other activities planned by the fisheries department should be amplified. He highlighted that the sector has a lot of scope for growth and increased productivity.

The proposed plan for the current year under PMMSY includes setting up of units and facilities to support fishermen and promote aquaculture development in both the private and government sectors. These include hatcheries, feed mills, tanks, markets and support services. Interventions such as a disease diagnostic lab and brood bank are also planned.

The ACS during the meeting was informed about the expected outcomes, including an increase in fish production, job creation, value chain strengthening, market infrastructure development, promoting ornamental fisheries, securing fishermen’s livelihood, reducing post-harvest losses and accessible disease diagnostic facilities for farmers.

Pertinently, PMMSY, a flagship scheme launched in 2020-21, aims to enhance fish production to 220 LMT with an investment of over Rs. 20,000 crores by 2024-25. Jammu and Kashmir has been given a target of producing an additional 15,000 MT of freshwater fish under the PMMSY program during the project period.

Meanwhile, the ACS also chaired UT Level Executive Committee meeting for the National Livestock Mission (NLM) 2023-24, where the physical and financial achievements of the Animal Husbandry and Sheep Husbandry departments were shared.

Among the topics discussed were the progress made under breed development activities for livestock and poultry, the establishment of a Regional Semen Production Laboratory and Semen Bank for sheep and goat and the propagation of Artificial Insemination centres.

During the meeting, the ACS emphasised the need for world-class training and capacity building to develop these sectors in J&K. The ACS also underlined that an MoU has been signed with New Zealand for the development of sheep husbandry sector in J&K.

The meeting also covered other activities such as capacity building, exposure visits and insurance.

The meetings were attended by Director General Sheep Husbandry Kashmir, Director Animal Husbandry Jammu/Kashmir, Director Sheep Husbandry Jammu, Director Fisheries besides other officers of the concerned departments both in person and through video conferencing. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: A livestock-laden truck rolled down a gorge near Domail in Udhampur district resulting in fatality to all seventy goats and sheep, officials said.

They told GNS that a truck bearing registration number HP63 E4737B driven by one Sansar Singh, son of Jarnail Singh on way from Manwal side towards Srinagar turned turtle and rolled down a gorge in Roun Domail, resulting in on spot fatality of the whole livestock. 

Additional SP Udhampur Anwar ul Haq has in the meantime also confirmed to GNS about the incident. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Police in Kulgam carried out a rescue operation and rescued three nomadic families along with their livestock who were stuck in between the river Vaishow near Chambgund.

    The police said it received information that some nomads along with their livestock were stuck in between the river Veshaw near Chambgund due to an abrupt increase in water level during the intervening night of 18 and 19 April.

   Acting swiftly, Police party from Police Station Devsar along with SDRF teams under the supervision of SP Kulgam launched a rescue operation in the said area. During the rescue operation, three nomadic families consisting of 19 members along with their livestock including more than 100 sheep, and their essential commodities were shifted to a safer place.
   “ Community members especially nomads expressed their gratitude towards police for their timely help and necessary assistance,” the police said. (KNT)