INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KURNOOL: Cattle traders in Kurnool district make their livestock swim between Somasila in Kollapur region of Nagarkurnool district and
Siddheswaram in Kothapalle area of Kurnool to save on time and transportation costs
There is criticism that this practice is cruel in nature and hugely hurting the cows.Traders say it takes only 40 minutes of ferrying to
During the arduous journey, the bovine pack suffers by way of jostling with each other, hits from pointed horns, and entwining of feet while
All these result in bruises by the time the cows reach the shore, a trader said.The Musalimadugu (crocodile marsh) area near Siddheswaram is
the hub of cattle trade, to where bovines came from Somasila and Telkapally on the other side of the river in Telangana state
this operation, one has to tie his cattle to the boat before boarding
The animal will then follow the boat in the water
There are times the animals are attacked by crocodiles
There are instances of cattle dying while being pulled through the boats as they failed to breathe properly and swam up against the rising
tide, he said.Recently, the Kollapur police in Nagarkurnool district filed 12 bind-over cases and the matter was referred to a special probe
But no case has been filed so far in Kurnool district
Andhra Pradesh following the Godavari river boat tragedy
Only tourism boats are allowed to do so
But private boat operators use the river to cross between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states on the Somasila-Sidheswaram route.
