Livestock of Warwan fire victims at risk for want of shelter in cold

Warwan, Oct 27: Livestock worth crores of rupees, belonging to the victims of the recent Warwan fire, is at serious risk of perishing in the cold due to the lack of proper shelter.

Over 70 families were left homeless after a devastating fire engulfed the village of Mulwarwan in Warwan Valley on October 14, destroying their homes, cowsheds, and other shelters.

The fire also consumed the grass and fodder meant to sustain the livestock through winter.

An official said that each household owned at least 10 animals, including cows, buffaloes, sheep, goats, horses, and mules, totalling over 700 livestock now left without shelter.

The villagers also raise plenty of poultry.

While the families are now putting up in the houses in the neighbouring villages, Panchayat Ghar and tents, their animals and poultry are left with no shelter.

“Residents and voluntary organisations have stepped in to arrange fodder for the livestock, but without proper shelter, the animals remain vulnerable to the harsh weather,” said Sajad Ahmad Wani, a villager whose cowsheds and stable were destroyed, “We had stocked up fodder and dry grass for the winter, but it’s all gone now, reduced to ashes.”

With the onset of heavy snowfall, which regularly blocks the only road connecting the Warwan and Marwa valleys to the rest of the region, constructing shelters for the livestock has become an urgent priority.

The area is typically covered by over six feet of snow in the winter months.

“We are appealing to the government and humanitarian organisations to provide materials like tin, ply, and timber so we can build sheds for our animals,” said Ghulam Qadir, another victim who is struggling to care for his sheep, goats, cows, and poultry.”

Ababeel, a charity organisation based in Chenab Valley, has pledged to assist the fire victims by building shelters for the livestock.

“We understand that livestock is the primary livelihood for the villagers and we are committed to ensuring that the cattle are sheltered before the road closes due to snowfall,” Advocate Hassan Babur, a volunteer with Ababeel, said. The charity organisation is already transporting construction materials from Kashmir to complete the shelters in time.