KARGIL, UT LADAKH — A preliminary report has been submitted to the Chief Animal Husbandry Officer of Kargil regarding the deaths of seven cattle at the high-altitude pastures of Shashi La. The report, dated July 28, 2025, details the findings of an on-site investigation conducted by a team from the Animal Husbandry Department.

Following an order from the Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, a team led by the Disease Investigation Officer, and including a Veterinary Assistant Surgeon (VAS), an Assistant Veterinary Officer (AVO), and a Veterinary Pharmacist, visited the site on July 28. After an arduous trek, the team reached Shashi La and discovered seven carcasses on a steep slope. The deceased animals included three crossbred cows, one male yak (zoh), two female yaks (zomo), and one crossbred yak (ltormo).

According to the report, the team observed that all carcasses were located in a single spot, were extremely bloated, and had begun to putrefy. Some of the carcasses showed signs of being partially eaten, most likely by wild animals. Locals informed the team that the livestock most likely belonged to villagers from Garkon.

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Initial post-mortem and physical examinations did not reveal any signs of infectious diseases. However, samples have been collected and sent to regional diagnostic laboratories for further investigation to determine the exact cause of death