Volunteers Rescue Around 200 Animals From Flooded Villages in India

Andhra Pradesh, India — September 28, 2026

About 200 animals have been rescued from villages affected by rising floodwaters in Andhra Pradesh, India, after residents were evacuated and many stray and abandoned animals were left behind.

Animals Left Behind as Villages Were Evacuated

The rescue operation began after several villages in the Veligonda project area faced submergence as water levels continued to rise.

While residents were moved to safer locations, many dogs and other animals remained in the affected villages. Some were trapped in partially flooded areas, while others were unable to find food or reach dry ground.

Distress calls from local residents prompted animal welfare organisations to organise an emergency rescue effort.

Rescuers Used Boats to Reach Stranded Animals

Teams from Sanghamitra Animal Foundation and Jeevaradya Animal Rescue Society initially responded to calls from the affected villages. As the water rose and roads became inaccessible, Animal Warriors Conservation Society from Hyderabad joined the operation.

Rescuers used boats to reach areas that could no longer be accessed by road. They searched submerged and partially submerged settlements for animals that had been left behind during the evacuation.

The teams rescued dogs as well as reptiles, including scorpions, snakes, turtles and chameleons.

More Than 200 Animals Saved

Over the course of the week-long operation, the organisations rescued around 200 animals.

One rescue team alone reported finding several dogs trapped in discarded plastic containers while searching for food. Rescuers also discovered the remains of animals that had apparently died after being left without adequate food.

Local authorities supported the operation by providing permissions, an ambulance and access to a boat when roads became impassable.

Rescue Effort Highlights Animals’ Vulnerability During Disasters

The operation highlighted a problem that can easily be overlooked during large-scale evacuations: domestic and stray animals may have no way to escape rising floodwaters on their own.

Animal welfare groups involved in the rescue have called for animal protection to be included in future evacuation and disaster-response plans, particularly when entire communities are moved from areas at risk of flooding.

For the animals rescued from the Veligonda area, the coordinated work of volunteers, local communities and authorities provided a way out before the affected villages became increasingly difficult to reach.

Sources

• The Times of India — Left behind, not forgotten: Week-long rescue op saves 200 animals from Veligonda submergence zone in Andhra Pradesh — September 28, 2026.
• Telangana Today — NGOs rescue over 200 animals from Veligonda project displacement areas — September 22, 2026.