Sources said the incident took place around 5 am on Friday morning when a speedy truck swept away more than 50 cattle including sheep and goats, meant for sacrificial purpose, at Srinagar’s Nowgam Bypass area. The driver, however, managed to escape from the spot despite chased up by “bakerwalas” (cattle rearing folk).

The custodian of flock, Muhammad Shareef, resident of Kanchol, Bakoli of Rajouri district told a local news gathering agency, that a truck with full speed crushed all the cattle during wee hours early morning before dawn prayers. “We were returning back with cattle from Kangan, as we reached Nowgam this unfortunate incident took place.”

“The driver from a distance started blowing horn. As we started making way for him, the vehicle abruptly swept all the cattle,” the dejected Shareef added.

He said we chased the vehicle but all in vain. The estimation of loss, according to him is about more than 8 lakh rupees. “The flock belongs to other persons as well. I had come here to sell the whole year’s stock but what befell me, I’m not able to come to senses,” the crestfallen bakerwal while talking on phone narrated.

Among the killed cattle, many, according to flock guardian, were expecting young ones.

When contacted Station House Officer (SHO), Nowgam, Mushtaq Ahmad confirmed the incident. “A case FIR No. 125 under section 279/429/336 has been registered in this regard and we are trying to nab the driver,” SHO said. (GNS)