Hundreds of animals rescued during Delhi floods

PUNE: As the recent floods ravaged Delhi, a massive animal rescue operation ensued, involving various animal welfare organizations and dedicated volunteers.
Hundreds of animals had earlier found themselves stranded, seeking shelter and safety amidst rising flood waters.
The rescuers worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of the stranded animals. Expert catchers from Friendicoes, an animal welfare organization, was part of the rescue efforts along with animal welfare activists Gaurav Dar, Tarana Singh, Sanjay Mohapatra, Rashim Sharma, Ayesha Christina, among others.
Volunteers from Life For Strays, Akash Singh and Prabhjeet Singh were also part of the rescue operations.Volunteers from Life For Strays, Akash Singh and Prabhjeet Singh were also part of the rescue operations.
PFA (People for Animals) provided back-end support, facilitating communication with the administration to secure boats and tractors for the animal evacuations.
The rescue operation began on July 12, when a routine call to an animal helpline reported dogs and cattle stranded in the Yamuna Khader area after heavy rains. However, the situation escalated as floodwaters isolated animals in areas already evacuated by humans.
Responding to the crisis, a network of animal welfare organizations formed, rallying help from various sources. Volunteers bravely ventured into the floodwaters, rescuing dogs from trees, rooftops, and swimming to safety.
As night fell, news arrived that several animal shelters were submerged. Volunteers evacuated around 350 dogs from one shelter and 100 dogs from another, transporting them through chest-high water to waiting trucks.
Rescuing cattle posed a more significant challenge. A gaushala housing 400 cows required a coordinated effort. On July 13, teams of dedicated gaushala volunteers, along with NDRF veterans, worked throughout the night, relocating the cows to higher ground as floodwaters reached levels not seen years.
The scale of the disaster prompted a flood of requests for boats from local administrations. Disaster relief planners had to adjust their response plans to accommodate the animal rescue efforts.
Social media was abuzz with visuals of abandoned cattle, dogs, terrified cats and even rabbits and guinea pigs that needed help. And help arrived from all over.
As the waters receded, rescuers cheered as six dogs, three goats, and a little pup were offloaded from a boat to safety.
Delhi based animal lover Monika Singh said, "The massive animal rescue effort during the Delhi floods demonstrated the compassion and dedication of the animal welfare community. Their efforts saved the lives of hundreds of animals in distress, offering hope amidst the devastation caused by the floods."