Assam Flood Recovery: Mass Veterinary Camps Launched to Treat 10,000 Stranded Animals
As floodwaters subside after a historic crisis in Assam, a massive relief operation is now targeting the health of over 10,000 livestock and pets. Humanitarian groups and state officials are collaborating to prevent secondary mortality through emergency medical interventions.
The Scale of the Post-Flood Livestock Crisis
In the wake of Assam’s most devastating floods in six decades, the state’s Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department has transitioned into an emergency response phase. The inundation claimed 68 human lives and displaced 7.5 lakh people, but the impact on the region’s faunal population is equally stark. Recent data from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority indicates that 8.82 lakh farmed and companion animals were caught in the surge, with 26,512 animals, including cats, dogs, and poultry, reported as lost or washed away.
Collaborative Medical Interventions
The recovery effort is currenty focused on Sivasagar, Jorhat, and Charaideo—districts that bore the brunt of the monsoon's path. Agencies including Humane World for Animals India and the local NGO Just Be Friendly have integrated their resources with the government to set up mobile veterinary stations. These units are tasked with several objectives:
- Treating thousands of animals for trauma and waterborne illnesses.
- Distributing tarpaulin sheets to help cattle-owning families create makeshift shelters against additional rainfall.
- Providing urgent medication for untreated injuries sustained during the evacuation.
Jaihari A.K., a senior disaster response specialist at Humane World for Animals India, noted that many cattle spent days standing in deep water with no access to fodder. He explained that the period after waters withdraw is frequently more dangerous than the flood itself, as lack of professional care for wounds and sickness can lead to high delayed mortality rates.
Addressing the Economic Backbone
The relief initiative aims to serve 10,000 animals, recognizing the direct link between animal health and the survival of agricultural communities. Farmers in eastern Assam have lost critical stores of animal feed and permanent shelters. By deploying medical teams directly into rural villages, the partnership hopes to stabilize the local economy by preserving its most essential assets.
Source: The Hindu — Home
