Nine sacrificial goats have reportedly died from suffocation while being transported in the luggage compartment of a passenger coach travelling from Sadiqabad in Rahim Yar Khan to Sialkot. The tragic incident is believed to have been caused by extreme heat, severe overcrowding and a complete lack of ventilation inside the compartment during the long journey.
According to initial reports, the condition of the animals only came to light when the luggage section was opened near a railway crossing — where several goats were found lifeless. Passengers present at the scene recorded videos showing the heartbreaking aftermath, which spread rapidly across social media and sparked widespread concern over the treatment and transportation of sacrificial animals in the days leading up to Eid ul Adha.
The incident has raised serious questions about animal safety during long-distance transport, particularly as livestock movement across the country increases significantly in the run-up to the religious festival. Many social media users expressed outrage over the tragedy and called for stricter monitoring of animal transport conditions and better regulations to prevent such incidents from happening again.
Meanwhile, authorities have officially confirmed the sighting of the Zilhajj moon, announcing that Eid ul Adha will be observed across Pakistan on May 27. Preparations for the festival are now in full swing nationwide, with cattle markets seeing heavy footfall as people continue purchasing their sacrificial animals ahead of the occasion.
