Arun Jasrotia
Udhampur ,TDD, In a troubling development that highlights the growing human-wildlife conflict in Jammu and Kashmir, the Jaganoo Block of Udhampur district is grappling with an unprecedented surge in monkey attacks, forcing schools to station staff members with sticks to protect their students. The situation has become so dire that the local Primary Health Centre reports attending to 20-25 monkey bite cases in five to Six Months.
The crisis has transformed daily life in this quiet block, where monkeys now brazenly enter homes, snatch food, and attack residents without provocation. “They’re targeting children and shoppers alike,” says Abhishek Verma, a local student who has witnessed the escalating situation firsthand. Despite measures like installing barbed wire around properties, the simian intruders remain undeterred.
School authorities have been particularly challenged by the crisis. Sanjeet Sharma, a former Block Development Chairman Jaganoo and school owner, describes how the monkeys operate in groups, stealing children’s lunch boxes and creating an atmosphere of fear. “We’ve had to assign staff members specifically to guard against monkey attacks, just so our children can study in peace,” he explains.
The medical community is raising alarms about the public health implications. Dr. Rooplai Gupta, Medical Officer at PHC Jaganoo, reveals that severe cases require referral to the Associated Hospital & Government Medical College in Udhampur. “Even healthcare workers feel scared coming to work,” she admits, noting how the situation has deteriorated over the past few years.
While local authorities have attempted solutions, including the installation of baboon cutouts as deterrents, these measures have provided only temporary relief. Residents continue to await a permanent solution to restore safety to their community.TDD