The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.

― Mahatma Gandhi

Over 150 Mules are dead in first 30 days of Yatra at Kedarnath. The equines on the Char Dham yatra's Kedarnath route were being worked to death, flogged and often drugged to make them carry more load and with greater frequency

I witnessed that mules and horses are “beaten mercilessly” and even “given narcotics” so that they continue on their path. It should be noted that the yatra route prior to 2013 Kedarnath Floods had four rest points and check-up stops for the horses and mules. Shockingly enough, the new route has not a single one of those stops. “It is a common sight to see the animals slipping, especially on the way down, because of the rains and the terrain.

What is more shocking is that most of the dead bodies are left in open and tossed in Madakinin river. I myself saw a mule dumped in the river. I urge mule owners not to dump carcasses into the river and follow proper burial rituals.

I want your help to bring this to attention of Mrs Parshottam Rupala, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying,India and Shri Saurabh Bahuguna, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries, Uttarakhand & AWBI. A policy for working equines is much needed right now and want the state to notify the prevention of cruelty to animals (Licensing of Farriers) Rules 1965