Amravati: 34 monkeys trapped on tree in dam waters rescued

AMRAVATI: It took three days of sustained efforts from a team from District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to rescue 34 monkeys trapped for five days on a tamarind tree surrounded by dam water near Samda Kashipur in Daryapur tehsil.
The team reached the tree in a boat and lured the monkeys by offering bananas, biscuits and fruits. The animals were later released in the forest.
The water level in the reservoir had increased after Daryapur received excessive rain on July 11. A troop of 30-40 monkeys had taken shelter on a tamarind tree two km from the shore. The next morning labourers working on a farm close to the dam noticed the monkeys and informed tehsildar Yogesh Deshmukh, who brought the matter to the notice of collector office.
DDMA chairperson and collector Pawaneet Kaur immediately ordered for a rescue team to be sent to the spot. The team reached the spot at 9am on July 15.
By 7pm on day one, 17 monkeys were rescued while 13 were rescued on day 2 and four on day 3.
“The team rescued 34 monkeys, included some young ones. Two died of snake bite. While some did not take the boat, a few themselves managed to reach the shore,” tehsildar Yogesh Deshmukh said.
The villagers praised the rescue team that comprised Hemant Sarkate, Kaustubh Vaidya, Bhushan Bais, Uday More, Gaurav Jagtap, Hiralal Pawar, Akash Nimkar, Arjun Sundarde, Pankaj Yewale, Rajendra Shahakar, Prafulla Bhusari, Ajay Asole, Gajanan Munde and Purushottam Puram.
The team was led by SRPF commandant Harsh Poddar, DCF Chandrashekhar Bala, RDC Nitin Vyavahare, ACF Jyoti Pawar, RFO Pradeep Bhad, DDMA officer Surendra Ramekar and PI Maruti Neware.