HYDERABAD: In a horrific case of animal cruelty, 21 dogs died after they were allegedly thrown from a 40-ft high bridge by unknown people in Sangareddy‘s Eddumailaram village, earlier this month, with their legs and mouths tied. Another 11 dogs are in critical condition.
Following a complaint by volunteers at Citizens for Animals the Indrakaran police registered a case and started a probe.
‘Bid to track culprits’
“Preliminary findings suggest that the dogs, found severely injured under the bridge, may have been thrown off a bridge in the area. However, nothing can be confirmed at this stage. Investigation is underway to gather more details about the incident from residents in the vicinity and also track down the culprits. The remains of the deceased dogs have been sent for a post-mortem examination to gather further evidence,” a police official from Indrakaran police station told TOI.
The incident came to light on Jan 4 when Citizens for Animals, an animal welfare organisation, received an anonymous tip-off about distressed cries near site.
‘Infested with maggots’
“On reaching the location, we discovered a grisly scene. The surviving dogs were found among the decomposing bodies of their deceased companions, some of which were infested with maggots. A few carcasses were floating in stagnant water, indicating the animals were abandoned for an extended period,” said Prithvi Paneru, a volunteer with the group.
The team acted quickly but faced challenges due to the depth of the dumping site. “We sought assistance from the Animal Warriors Conservation Society (AWCS) and People for Animals (PFA) Hyderabad. After hours of effort, 11 injured dogs were rescued and transported to the PFA shelter in Nagole, where they are undergoing medical care,” Prithvi added.
Animal welfare organisations have condemned the incident, calling for stringent action against those responsible. “Animal cruelty has increased more than ever. We urge authorities to prioritise this case the same way they would deal with a case if human lives were at stake,” added Prithvi.
