In the early part of August 2019, unprecedented heavy rainfall in western Maharashtra especially Kolhapur and Sangli districts lead to severe flooding, prompting lakhs of people to relocate to relief camps and also resulted in several human and livestock casualties. The worst affected villages were those located in the basins of Panchganga, Krishna river and their tributaries. Dr. Eaknath B Chakurkar, Director (A), ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa constituted a team of scientists from Animal Science Section of the Institute to visit the affected areas for assessing the effect of flood on animal husbandry, conducting animal health camps and also for performing advisory role in post-flood management of livestock. The team comprising of Dr. Gokuldas P.P., Scientist (Animal Reproduction) and Dr. Chethan Kumar H.B., Scientist (Veterinary Public Health) and Dr. Yenge Gahininath Dnyanoba, SRF (Poultry Science) from ICAR-CCARI visited Kolhapur district, Maharashtra during 19th to 21st August, 2019. The activities were coordinated in collaboration with social workers, Baharatiya Kisan Sangh and local veterinarians.

The veterinary team had an extensive interaction with 150 livestock owners, panchayat members, members of non-government organizations and local vets. During the period, the team visited flood affected villages viz., Prayag Chikali and Kerli village in Karveer Taluka, Mouje Sangaon in Kagal Taluka and Bhadgaon and Hebbal villages in Gadhinglaj taluka, Kowad and Rajagoli villages in Chandgad Taluka. Through animal health camps and house visits, 255 animals were treated for different ailments, provided with deworming agents and preventive vaccination against Haemorrhagic septicemia for cattle and buffaloes was also carried out. Veterinary medicines were also handed over to In-charge of respective Veterinary Dispensaries for follow up of treated cases. The veterinary medicines required for the animal health camps were generously donated by Shri Shrikant Joshi, M/s Agencia Mandovi, Goa. The visit was coordinated by Shri Shashank Deshpande and Shri Siddharth Shinde.