Srinagar, November 23
Lakhs of migratory birds are making the Kashmir valley their home as the icy cold climate in their natural habitat of the northern hemisphere has forced them to look for more hospitable avenues.

Wild life warden Abdul Rauf Zargar told The Tribune that this annual migration, keenly looked forward by tourists and bird-watchers in particular, has seen increasing numbers of birds like geese and ducks flocking to the Valley's wetlands for the past three years. 

"They arrived in record numbers last year and we expect them to surpass this figure this year," Zargar said.

These birds, experts say, travel thousands of miles for weeks to make their homes at more congenial places near the equator when shivering cold dries their food supplies and shortens the spell of day light. "These months are also the period when these birds breed. The Valley's wetlands provide them the perfect surroundings," the warden said.

Flocks of the migratory birds also fly to places like Burma and Thailand apart from other places near the equator. In Kashmir, birds have descended in lakhs in wetlands in Hokersar, Hygam and Shallabugh.

Zargar said action against poachers and removal of encroachments on wetlands has increased. "We confiscated 26 guns from poachers last year and eight so far in this year. Several of them were booked."

However, official sources added that the wildlife laws remain a weak link in the protection of these birds, whose flesh is particularly sought after by poachers for eating. Besides, the ruling class of politicians and officers at times either overlook or even abet poachers.

These birds start arriving from September and 
will stay here till March next year.

Rajouri, November 23
A minor girl was crushed to death by a speeding passenger vehicle and her brother received suffered serious head injuries in a road accident at Dhanwah, near here today.

Gulshan (7), Babbar (9) and their mother was waiting for a bus on the Jammu-Poonch highway, near Dhanwah village. An over speeding Mahindra Bolero tried to overtake a passenger bus, but the driver couldn’t control the speed and hit the children, police sources said.

While Gulshan died on the spot, her brother Babbar received multiple injuries in the head. Immediately after the accident, the villagers admitted him to district hospital. After seeing the condition of the child deteriorating, doctors referred him to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H), Jammu.

The police has arrested the driver of the Bolero identified as Sarabjit Singh.

Meanwhile, locals also blocked the busy Jammu-Poonch National Highway in protest against the failure of the traffic authorities to check overloading and over speeding in passenger vehicles. They alleged that the traffic officials were hand in glove with private vehicle owners and putting the lives of people to risk.