Visakha SPCA-more details re flood

[Guest guest]

I will have an email report soon with photos and stories if anyone wants it

kindly send me your email ID (if you are not already on my list). In the

meantime, here is the ongoing report from Pradeep Nath. Thank you for your

interest in the midst of all the other difficult situations.

Weintraub, Seattle, Washington USA

U.S. Representative; Visakha SPCA, India www.VisakhaSPCA.org

--

Pradeep Nath

Wednesday, September 21, 2005 10:09 AM

 

It is very clear we need urgent aid for doing the daily needs which are:

# animal feed,

# medicines,

# conveyance,

#hiring three more vehicles,

# volunteers or pay more and get labors,

# expenses for the volunteers to stay and flooding,

# buying of emergency materials like torch, ropes, shovels, etc.,

 

The reasons for flooding at the shelter was there was serious breach of a dam

to the West of our shelter and behind the 3 acres remaining that we are

asking the Govt to allott us originally asked for. The dam burst and

directly hit us being the first objective.

 

The assessment of the damage was conducted by three officials from Animal

Husbandry, Housing Board and Zilla Parishad along The Executive Engineer

and Pnachayat officials. And the report is as follows submitted to the

District Collector on spot yesterday afternoon:

 

# 320 feet boundary wall collapsed from West to North,

# seven thatched huts from the cattle section including vermicompost and

vehicle section very badly damaged and unusable out of which four washed

away,

# Feed room with 30 bags destroyed and other materials for cattle usage,

# Puppy's pound partially destroyed. We were in time to save all the 14

dogs when water suddenly rushed in,

# The temporary drainage system at the Goshala system is gone,

# Three wells destroyed one of them totally broken down.

 

# As per materials loss was 3 tonnes of the vermicopost and over 50000

earthworms and we improved tremendously to 1 tonne per day with just the 48

beds. All 48 beds washed away.

# 5 and half tonnes of dry hay washed away.

# Kitchen and electricity room flooded. The kitchen has been shifted to the

lab room until it is restored.

# Biogas slurry fully damaged with the meshing thrown away and flooding the

slurry with all sand stones.

# 125 big plants mostly banana meant as raw materials for vermicompost

washed away and fallen down,

# the entire stretch along the fallen boundary wall the subhabool fodder for

cattle washed away and badly damaged.

# many fruit trees extensively damaged.

 

Our immediate plan of action is to provide safe place for the cattle in

drier areas though there is " stop and start rains " with wind. As there is

no dry hay we are getting the extra feed dry special ones for the cattle.

requesting Animal husbandry to provide green fodder urgently. Medicines for

the cattle are needed with vaccinations.

 

The ABC is going on but slowly. The ABC dispensary is OK.

 

We are paying much more to attract labours otherswise none of them would

come. Picking them up and providing food also.

 

Trying to get dry hay fodder from surrounding areas but expensive as there

are blockages besides Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam at East and

West Godavari, Khammam and Warangal areas.

 

We are also concerned with areas in other lower regions in these areas and

the districts and reaching out to them from today onwards.

 

We requested for volunteers and immediate relief for all these daily needs

and teams from PFA (People for Animals) Chennai; Bharati Prani Mitraya from

Hyd (Hyderabad; , Karuna Society

and Rahul said was sending a team. Combined we will do the best not only

here but the coastal places also. Once our place is done ASAP we can bring

in animals rescued and needing attention if there are no AWOs (animal welfare

organisations) there.

 

Three of the labours have fallen sick and not reported to work. This

is despite paying five times more. People are getting sick. Volunteers,

medicines and animal feed needed.

 

Medicines and volunteers are a priority. Besides our Shelter need to rescue

outside nearby much worse. People at shelter are sick due to constant

exposure.

 

Dogs, cats , birds and monkeys and also tortoises need help. Puppies

shifted to the ABC. From today the Municipality insist on attending ABC so

that has started. Restoration of shelter is necessary. As there is no

electricity proper yet there it is difficult taking out 5000 litresof water

daily. Three wells destroyed. Only one well remains. Everything seems so

upsetting

 

It is like the second tsunami because hit the coastal areas where we covered

earlier. maybe we canot reach all but atleast with more volunteers and help

will fan out to most. Lot of work I am afraid.

 

The PFA people just arrived. They first came to Rajahmundry by the train and

from there by bus. Unusually late of four hours due road breaches. I am sure

you will see many areas flooded but more in the interior. At Vijaywada there is

a Goshala run by the Jains. At Rahjamundry nobody. And we remain the only one

is the East and middle. I guess if we can put our shelter on stream we can then

fan out to these areas urgently and bring back animals to our shelter if

necessary. Volunteers really I do not know how many but I am paying four times

to get the daily wages people of 30 people now. Mobile of all major companies

are OK.

 

But I will get back everything restored if not better and safety of the animals.

I am most disappointed with the loss of the entire vermicompost section through

which we were able to make good impact over the farmers to sell their cattle but

keep them until normal death and painstakingly came to the fastest production of

21 to 30 days from the normal 45 to 60 days. This was the research that we were

capable of proving the fantastic use of nature . We lost over 50000 earthworms

born all here. We mourn for them. We will start all over again in a much

better manner.

 

With all of your guidance am sure we will be able to do all best for the animals

here, rescues from today outside and continuation of the ABC also from today. We

are much more determined than ever.

 

Warm regards,

Love and peace,

Pradeep Kumar Nath.

 

Visakha SPCA

26-15-200 Main Road

Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

530001, India

Tel: 91-891-3096217

email: Pradeep Nath, Founder and President vspcadeep