Farmers in distress after 28 sheep die from lighting strike

DUDHPOKHARI, LAMJUNG: Sheep farmers in Lamjung district are in distress after numerous sheep at the sheep farm, Bhedigoth, in Maleya Danda of Dudhpokhari Rural Municipality-1 died from a lightning strike last Saturday.

Animal health technician at the Animal Service Division of Dudhpokhari Rural Municipality, Dinesh Gurung, confirmed that the lightning which struck the area on the evening of May 11 had killed 28 sheep.

As the incident came to light, Gurung and his counterpart from Dordi Rural Municipality Binod Prasad Kattel, along with 13 farmers from a sheep rearing group reached Bhedigoth after walking for 12 hours, on May 13.

"As soon as we heard the news, a 15-member team went to Bhedigoth. Majority of the sheep that died were females," said Gurung. He added, "Due to the incident, sheep farmers have faced a loss of over Rs 550,000."

A group of over 25 farmers from Dudhpokhari Rural Municipality-6 and Dordi Rural Municipality-5 have jointly formed 'Patipure Community Sheep Rearing Group' to rear the livestock at Bhedigoth. There are over 640 sheep there with four shepards to look after them.

According to practice, local farmers provide the sheep to be reared at the sheep farms, which are run by local shepards. The shepards take a portion of the earnings generated by selling the produce while the remaining sum goes to the owners of the sheep.

There are around 10 sheep farms in Dudhpokhari Rural Municipality, informed Gurung.