Last Thursday, three animal rescuers and I started for Idukki, after receiving a call from the Collector. And when we reached, what we saw resembled a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie. The area was utterly damaged by landslides and a number of animals were stuck in the mud. The situation was so bad that it became difficult to ascertain whether the animals were dead or alive.

There was little that we could do for the larger animals like cows and buffaloes because they were heavy and the terrain tricky but, leaving them behind with carcasses almost broke our hearts. But, we had to put our emotions aside because a lot of animals needed our help at the site that we had decided on.

I am an expert in rescues during disasters and have experienced several difficult situations but nothing could have prepared me for what I witnessed in Kerala. The current was quite strong and we were afraid of flash floods. Plus, we did not know Malayalam so we had to resort to gestures and sign language. 

Once we reached the site, it was frustrating to see that even though people had fled their homes, they had tied their pets to the gate or kept them caged. These animals had zero chances of survival.

In most cases, it was their cries that led us from one house to the other. Most of the dogs we rescued had not eaten for seven to eight days and were severely dehydrated. They were hungry for food and affection. We wanted to ensure that their owners found them when they returned, and since the water was receding, we housed the animals on the terrace, with enough food, water and shade. 

On reaching Pandanad in Chengannur – one of the worst affected areas – we received a call from a man who lived in Tamil Nadu but his parents were from Kerala. They had been evacuated by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) but had to leave their dog behind. When we reached the spot, the water reached our hips. We had to walk three kilometres to reach their house and the water reached out neck. The Labrador we found inside the house was terribly dehydrated and was not in a condition to swim to safety with us. So, I put my life jacket around him attached a carabiner hook to a rope and helped him swim to safety. I was a good swimmer so I knew I could make it without the jacket but the dog might not have. 

Despite all the hardships, we faced our  worst nightmare whenever we opened our social media pages or WhatsApp. We received so many hate messages, stating that Kerala deserved what had happened. It made no sense at all and hurt us immensely. While surrounded with news of people dying and countless dead animals, the death of humanity left us deeply scarred.

—As told to Tuba Raqshan