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 Sherry's Diary: Flood and Earthquake Diary:
Tsunami Diary:
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Visakha SPCA Suffers
Cyclone Damage
Pradeep Nath
Visakha, India
19 September 2005
Visakha is on the Bay of Bengal which is prone to cyclones the same as southeastern USA hurricane region. The shelter flooded due to unprecedented rainfall as the wall protecting it broke
All of the animals were saved but in danger of illness.
The surrounding areas are in a state of disaster and the Visakha SPCA must go out once again, just like after the tsunami to help all the animals. There is no one else. Other animal shelter workers from far away are rushing to help. Here below are some stories.
Please read below but do not lose heart. Visakha SPCA plans to rebuild with special fortifications against future floods. They are not giving up, so please don't give us on up either. Our prayers go out to those who are working to help other disasters at this time.
With give our infinite gratitude for her support to Eileen Weintraub, Seattle, Washington USA, U.S. Representative of Visakha SPCA, India www.VisakhaSPCA.org
Deccan Chronicle photo: 21 Sept. 2005
This shows the destroyed road on the way to the shelter. Same as after the tsunami, Pradeep laments that the beach submarine survived. This submarine interferes with the yearly Olive Ridley sea turtle nesting.
Monday 19th Sept. at 11:30 AM
Most of the cattle turned restless in all the sheds trying to accommodate each other, 330 in number, crowded together to protect from ceaseless rains. Through all the heavy rain during the past day and a half they were fine but at this hour they began to cry out in despair. Immediately Sarada and Raj (the shelter managers) threw the goshala (cow shelter) gates open and all of them ran out. Exactly one half hour later the west wall gave way and flooding rose to 8 feet.
There was already water stagnating in the shelter up to ankle deep due to the continuous rains. Amazing insight of the animal's instincts which we noticed during the tsunami times that cattle can sense natural disasters warning us of danger and warning us to rescue them as well! This made the shelter personnel to rush in and pull out all the puppies from the pound and dogs from nearby storage areas where some take rest. The puppies survived but mostly their pound did not.
In the photo above shows he cattle rushing out by themselves before flood hit.
Above the cow sheds that were under up to 8 feet of water and now in about 5 feet of water. Luckily we had this built on a higher platform anticipating these potential problems.
Here our idyllic shelter is flooded as is the "dry" hay area. At this stage the water had risen to 9 feet and is receding.
Above more of the shelter under water; the biogas plant and vermicompost and showing water coming in from the breached small dam and hitting us directly.
This shows all the water rushing in after the wall breached. With three collapsed huts this is the lone one standing at 11 feet. Due to the heavy water all 50,000 earthworms (developed from 2000) born in the vermicompost pits have died. Their valuable work for nature has come to a tragic end. 50,000 earthworms made the quickest vermicompost of all time, growing plants that helped to feed the animals and teaching surrounding farmers humane methods to keep their cattle from slaughter. We would sell some, use some and encourage area farmers to learn the best organic methods to help animals and nature.
More photos to come, thank you all. Sorry they are not close up of the animals but VSPCA doesn't feel its right to take photos of distressed animals. Special thanks are due to Mrs. Maneka Gandhi and Phil Wollen for moving the officials to come out and help us access and hopefully begin the restoration work.
Rain is falling heavily at the shelter area now and we are trying to protect all the animals before rushing out to help in the surrounding areas. Trains and flights into our area are still blocked but we will get through the roads with our vehicles to help four districts.
How is how we looked a week before with a new hay delivery (cattle in background).
Donations can be made by paypal on our web site; sent directly to India at above address or please do a reply to this email for U.S. postal mailing tax deductible addresses.
Visakha SPCA
26-15-200 Main Road
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
530001, India
Tel: +91 891 309 6217
Email: vspcadeep@yahoo.co.in
Website: www.VisakhaSPCA.org
- Pradeep Nath
Founder and President
Detailed List of Losses
Below is a report from officials from Animal Husbandry, Housing Board, the Executive Engineer and Zilla Parishad. This was submitted to the District Collector on the spot the day after the floods.
320 feet boundary wall collapsed from West to North.
Seven thatched huts from the cattle section including vermicompost.
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.
The temporary drainage system at the cow shelter system is gone;
Three wells destroyed one of them totally broken down.
Materials loss:
3 tons of the vermicompost and over 50,000 earthworms. They were capable to making 1 ton per day with just the 48 beds. All 48 beds washed away;
5 1/2 tons 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 special plants as fodder for cattle washed away and badly damaged.
Many fruit trees extensively damaged.
Click here for the VSPCA Website: www.VisakhaSPCA.org
