Authorities rescue 50 shepherds, over 3,500 livestock from Krishna floodplains

Vijayawada: In Palnadu District, a successful rescue operation was carried out by authorities to save 50 shepherds and 3,501 animals from the floodplains along the Krishna River. The shepherds, hailing from villages like Amaravati, Vaikunthapuram, Gidugu, Pondgula, and Munugodu, traditionally graze their livestock in these areas for months as a means of livelihood.However, this practice has now put their lives in danger.
About 20 days ago, 36 people from these villages entered the floodplains with 1,500 animals. Due to continuous rainfall over the last two days, the water level in the river gradually increased. The meteorological department has issued a warning of heavy rains for the next two days, causing concern among the shepherds. Similarly, 14 shepherds and 2,001 animals from the villages of Konuru, Kastala, and Chamarru in Achampet mandal were also at risk.
District collector P Arun Babu, SP Srinivasa Rao, and Pedakurapadu MLA Bhashyam Praveen promptly responded to the situation. They coordinated 22 boats from local boat centers in Amaravati, Achampet Kastala, and Ganathpur in Krishna district. Each boat, with a capacity of 30 to 50 animals, required at least 2 hours for a round trip, and loading the animals onto the boats posed an additional challenge. On average, each boat made 4 trips, taking over 10 hours to ensure everyone's safety. In the Krishna river basin area of Thulluru mandal in Guntur district, the flood intensity of the Krishna river has increased, leading to the relocation of around 200 families residing in Rayapudi Pedalanka to the rehabilitation center in Ibrahimpatnam of Krishna district. With no one at home, the livestock have been left unattended. The residents of Lanka expressed their distress, stating that approximately 200 buffaloes were swept away by the rising river.
People live in five Lankas in Thulluru mandal, and authorities moved residents from the Lankas in Rayapudi Pedalanka, Uddandarayunipalem, Thallayapalem, Venkatapalem, and Harishchandrapuram villages to relief camps.