Calls grow for stricter enforcement & rehab shelters
Srinagar, Feb 15: Every winter, as tourism fades and pilgrimage routes fall silent, a familiar yet disturbing scene unfolds across parts of Ganderbal, the outskirts of Srinagar and adjoining towns — horses once central to summer livelihoods are seen wandering aimlessly along roadsides and near marketplaces.
“These horses work day and night during the Yatra. They carry pilgrims, luggage and hope,” said a resident of Ganderbal. “But the moment winter arrives, they are treated like a burden. This has been happening for years.” Locals say the problem is no longer limited to highways but has entered residential areas. “In the mornings you see them near garbage dumps searching for food,” said another local. “Sometimes they slip on icy roads and get injured. Nobody comes forward to claim them.” “These animals feed families in summer. In winter, families forget them,” said Naseer Ahmad, a taxi driver. “If a person cannot keep a horse all year, they should not own one.” Elderly residents recall a time when animals were considered part of the household. “Earlier, horses were treated like family members,” said a senior citizen. “Now everything is about money. Once the income stops, compassion also stops.”
According to the Animal Husbandry Department, nearly 3,600 horses are registered in Ganderbal during the pilgrimage season through the Shrine Board’s GMAX portal, where animals are tagged, insured and documented.
“During the journey period, everything is monitored digitally,” an official said. “But once the Yatra ends, the portal closes. After that, tracing owners of abandoned horses becomes nearly impossible.”
The department confirmed that 20–25 cases of abandonment have been registered so far this year.
“We have the legal authority to fine offenders ₹10,000 or send them to jail for up to two years. The law is clear,” the official added. “The difficulty is identifying owners when tags are missing or portals are inactive.”
While abandoned horses are being rescued and medically treated, long-term solutions remain uncertain. “We have no problem treating them. We make them healthy again,” the official said. “But rehabilitation is the biggest challenge.”
Urban Local Bodies, in coordination with the district administration, are now working to identify spaces for sheltering unclaimed horses.
“A team has been formed under the supervision of senior officers. Locations for rehabilitation are being identified so that abandoned animals can be shifted after treatment,” officials said. Authorities have appealed to the public to report abandoned animals through the 24-hour helpline 1962, assuring immediate response by mobile veterinary units. Residents, however, believe enforcement must go beyond helplines.
“Unless strict action is taken against owners, this will continue every winter,” said Imtiyaz Ahmad, a shopkeeper. “People should be made examples.”
