Bhubaneswar: Activists across the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack have raised concerns as stray animals are unable to find water to quench their thirst amid rising temperatures. "Just yesterday, we found a dog unconscious near the Janpath road and there was no water anywhere nearby. By the time we tried to help, it was too late," said Priyanka Das, an animal welfare volunteer.
According to a recent survey by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, the capital city has over 47,000 stray dogs. In Cuttack, the number has crossed 21,000. In several localities, stray cattle and dogs are seen huddling under parked vehicles or squeezing into narrow patches of shade to escape the scorching sun.
"They keep roaming in search of water. Sometimes they enter houses or shops out of desperation," a resident of Nayapalli in Bhubaneswar said. "We see dogs panting and sitting under vehicles to escape the sun," added Suresh Nayak, a shopkeeper in Cuttack.
The activists have blamed unchecked urbanisation and lack of civic preparedness. "There is no structured effort to provide water points for stray animals during summer. Every year, the situation repeats, despite repeated complaints to the authorities, there is no significant development," said Sabita Mohapatra, an animal welfare activist.
When asked, Bhubaneswar mayor Sulochana Das said, "We are encouraging citizens to keep water bowls outside their homes and public places and the civic body is working on expanding awareness and support measures to ensure animals get access to water during summer." Cuttack mayor Subhash Singh added, "We recognise the challenges and are exploring arrangements for water points so that animals are not left to suffer."
