Hyderabad: Veterinary officers from across Telangana have said the 2024 rains exposed long-standing gaps in the state’s animal disaster management system, with floods and cold waves continuing to be the biggest drivers of livestock deaths. They suggested timely weather alerts can save animals.Speaking at the state’s first conference on animal-inclusive disaster risk reduction, organised by UNICEF and Humane World for Animals India on Thursday, they highlighted persistent challenges such as weather extremeties-related deaths, lack of dedicated rescue infrastructure, absence of a livestock census, under-compensation for farmers, and poor insurance implementation.Warangal district veterinary and health officer (DVHO) M Balakrishna outlined urgent preparedness steps, stressing that “identifying high-ground shelters, stocking dry fodder and clean water, and having a simple evacuation plan can prevent large-scale losses.” Stating that animals must be vaccinated against flood-related diseases, he said, “We are forming 13 rapid response teams to conduct animal health camps and support flood-hit areas.” Balakrishna also highlighted the need for tagging livestock and improving farmer awareness, noting that “timely weather alerts can save hundreds of animals.” Warangal lost 8,790 livestock to flood and heavy rains and 887 to cold wave in 2024. Suryapet DVHO D Srinivas Rao reported that 168 animals were lost during recent floods in the district. Calling for stronger institutional support, he said, “Farmers, veterinary staff, and local stakeholders need continuous training to handle disasters effectively.” Emphasising the importance of mobile veterinary units and cattle relief camps, he said: “Stress after floods severely affects milk production, so restoring animal health must be a priority.” He also flagged electrocution deaths as a major gap: “Animals dying due to live wires in floodwater receive no compensation, this must change.”Bhadradri Kothagudem DVHO Venkateshwarlu said communities along the Godavari remain the most vulnerable. “Early warnings and clear communication saved many animals this year,” he said. He stressed the importance of community-led rescue efforts and multi-department coordination. “Animal rescue requires specialised training, resources, and protocols. Local knowledge from past floods is one of our strongest tools,” he added.
