Leh, Jan 09: The Indian Army’s Fire and Fury Corps has raised a modern sheep shelter at Rale Iching in Durbuk, giving a boost to pastoral families living in the far-flung border belt of eastern Ladakh. The structure has come up under the Army’s outreach project, Operation Sadbhavana, and stands at nearly 15,500 feet above sea level.
Built to beat the biting cold of Ladakh’s long winter, the shelter carries heating support and a ventilation system that keeps livestock warm, dry and safe. The Army says the facility is built to help sheep and goats survive freezing stretches, when livestock deaths often cripple rural income.
For the nomadic and semi-nomadic families of Durbuk, herding is not just a source of money but a tradition shaped over generations. Sub-zero temperatures, snowfall and icy winds wipe out herds every year, pushing families into hardship and food shortage.
Army officials said the structure would help bring down winter losses and lift the confidence of villagers who depend almost fully on their animals. “This shelter is more than a physical structure. It is an investment in livelihoods, dignity and sustainability of border communities,” an officer said.
The Corps stated that the effort mirrors its long-running work in frontier settlements that struggle with tough terrain, harsh weather and gaps in infrastructure.
Residents of Rale Iching welcomed the move and thanked the Army for stepping in with timely help. Villagers said the shelter would ease their winter worries while improving animal health, wool quality and milk yield. Many also remarked that such support deepens the trust between local people and the troops posted across the high-altitude region.
