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Published: 06 September 2015

JAMMU: The unusually low temperatures in the  hilly and mountainous tracks of north-western Himalaya   have led to lakhs of  Gujjars and Bakerwals - the  nomadic tribes-  to preponed  their back journey to down and plane areas of Jammu and Kashmir  , along with their livestock much earlier than usual. In a statement, the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation -a frontal  organisation of Gujjars-Bakerwals - today stated that nomads- are presently under seasonal migration to hilly areas- are facing acute shortage of fodder for their cattle due to sudden fall in temperature in upper reaches .

“This is first time when the  nomadic Gujjars-Bakerwals started moving  towards  warmer areas of Jammu and Kashmir  ahead of their schedule time ' said Dr. Javaid Rahi, secretary of the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation added that  they usually start their bi annual migration  to warmer  areas in mid October  along with their cattle and sheep and  live in  lower areas  for around six months .”

Tribal migration is an annual feature for nomads  and  it starts to the  hilly and mountainous areas, in search of pastures, in   J&K and Himachal Pradesh in March -April  to spend the summer He said’.  'But this year, the Gujjars Bakerwals –the main tribal communities has started  back  journey  from Shivalik and Pir Panjal and Zojela mountains ranges of Western Himalaya to down areas in  first week of September  which is quite unusual and unseen, He said,

“Because of low temperature the grass in pastures burned  due  cold waves as the temperature in  high reaches of Kashmir valley and Pir panchal areas of Jammu region is already less the  usual which compelled the nomads to move early a TRCF Secretary said.  'It is after a very long time  when these nomadic tribes had preponed their seasonal migration because of abnormally temperature in  September, when the minimum temperature is below normal level,' he said.

It takes 40 to 50 days for a Tribal family to migrate from hilly areas to a warmer area along with their cattle include sheep’s, goats, horses, buffalos , cows, camels and Dogs.  The Gujjars and Bakerwals who form the 20 % population of State and 60% of their population is still migratory who  live by cattle rearing and hence they annually migrate to climatically comfortable areas where fodder for livestock and their sustenance is easy.  According to a meterological officials and experts , the decrease of  temperature has been caused by the  climate change.