Herders with buffaloes trapped as dam water released without warning in southern India
by Ekta ChaubeyIn a troubling incident in southern India’s Telangana, herders and their buffaloes were stranded after water was unexpectedly released from the Musi Dam, flooding the surrounding area.
The incident took place in Bheemaram village, located in the Kothapalli mandal of Nalgonda district on September 22.
Visuals showed the herders and their buffaloes stranded in the middle of the stream, desperately clinging to a large boulder as floodwaters surged around them. The herders were seen shouting for help, while their buffaloes were also caught in the rising waters, struggling to stay afloat.
According to reports, on Sunday afternoon, Musi project authorities sounded a siren before lifting three gates, releasing water into the stream. Unaware of the imminent danger, herders in the lower areas had taken their cattle for grazing, while sand traders were collecting sand in the stream. The sudden release of water trapped both the herders and their buffaloes, leading to a frantic rescue operation. Local police, acting under the guidance of SP Sharat Chandra Pawar, rushed to the site. After a tense three-hour-long rescue effort, the herders were safely rescued with the help of a poclainer. Unfortunately, around 20 buffaloes and a tractor were swept away in the floodwaters.
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