Unseasonal snow adds to hardship of Gujjar, Bakerwal tribes’ seasonal migration
BHADERWAH, Apr 21 (PTI): Amid unseasonal snowfall, hundreds of Gujjar and Bakerwal tribes have begun their centuries-old biannual migration to the highland pastures of Jammu and Kashmir’s Chenab Valley, braving harsh conditions.
The nomads and their livestock embarked on their traditional routes last week, signalling the start of the seasonal transhumance. The movement comes notwithstanding fresh, or rather unusual, snowfall in several higher-altitude areas, which has made the passage particularly risky.
Hundreds of families have been traversing through the plains of Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts towards the high-altitude meadows of the Chenab Valley, a journey that would take at least a month to reach the summer pastures.
