Uttarakhand : On the death of horses and mules, the minister said – FIR will be lodged against the operator in case of death of animals

Animal Husbandry Minister Saurabh Bahuguna has expressed grief over the death of horses and mules on the Kedarnath Yatra route. He said that horses and mules have an important role in Kedarnath Yatra. Horse-mule operators are not taking any care of them. Horses and mules are being run on the road from morning to evening and even at night. He is dying due to lack of rest. FIR will be registered against such operators. Along with this, Animal Husbandry Minister Saurabh Bahuguna also inspected the Gaurikund horse halt. On reaching the district headquarters Rudraprayag, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Milk Development, Fisheries, Sugarcane Development, Sugar Industry, Protocol, Skill Development and Employment Saurabh Bahuguna was welcomed by District Panchayat President Amardei Shah. After this, the Minister of Animal Husbandry reached the Rudra Complex of GMVN located at the headquarters. Taking a meeting of officials here, he said that he is getting information about the death of horses and mules on the Kedarnath Yatra route. So far 70 horses and mules have died on the yatra route, which is a matter of sorrow.

Special care should be taken to conduct the Kedarnath Yatra in a systematic manner and the health of the horses and mules operating on the Yatra route. If a horse mule is weak and unfit, then it should not be operated on its journey route. He instructed the District Magistrate and the concerned officers that proper care should be taken of the horse mules operating on the Kedarnath Yatra route. Proper arrangement of drinking water should be made on the route of the journey. Along with the fodder for the animals, proper arrangements for cleanliness should be made. He said that there are about ten thousand horses and mules on the Kedarnath Yatra route, in which only eight thousand five hundred have been registered. He said that fifty percent horse mules should be operated in a day. Horse mules should be given one day’s compulsorily rest.

He directed the district administration to deploy a force along the Yatra route, in which 20 people should be included. Whose work will be whether they are being provided with grain, fodder, water from time to time by their owners and hawkers to the horses and mules operating on the route. Along with this, he has also given instructions to constitute a team of five members. In which the people of Veterinary Doctor, Police, District Panchayat and District Administration will be involved. Whose work will be that they will monitor the horses and mules operating on the journey route.