The authorities give compensation to a shepherd in the Solan area on Sunday.
The authorities give compensation to a shepherd in the Solan area on Sunday.
In a lightning incident, 54 head of cattle died while three shepherds had a miraculous escape in forest areas near Deothi village near Solan around 3 am on Sunday.

The mishap occured when the shepherds were pitching their tents for the night.

The Solan SDM informed that 54 goats and sheep had died in the incident, adding that an interim relief of Rs 50,000 had been disbursed by the Tehsildar.

Veterinary doctors were requisitioned for the examination of surviving goats in the area, besides conducting post-mortem of the deceased cattle.

The SDM informed that shepherds from Kinnaur were camping in the said area when lightning stuck.

The affected shepherds have been identified as Vishal Negi, Vinay Singh, Krishna Bhagat and Vinod Kumar Chaura, all of whom are residents of Bhawa area of ​​Kinnaur district.

A herd of about 650 sheep and goats had reached the Solan-Subathu area to graze, on the traditional migration route followed by pastoralists from the highlands.

Three shepherds — Buddhi Singh, Kuldeep Negi and Vinod Negi — who survived the lightning strike expressed relief that no human life was lost, although they said they had suffered financial losses due to the death of their livestock. Following the incident, the herdsmen have appealed to the state government and the district administration for immediate assistance and compensation. He also urged the authorities to consider special relief measures for migrant herdsmen.