Mamidalapadu, October 16: On the night of October 1, when hundreds of residents from Mamidalapadu on the banks of river Tungabhadra were fleeing to save themselves from the devastating floods, one man – Golla Srinu – refused to follow them despite being warned about the impending danger.
Even his wife and children deserted the village after being told that staying back meant sure death, but Srinu, a farmer, wouldn’t budge.
So concerned was he about his six cattle heads (three bulls and three buffaloes), which were part of his family, that he had put their safety ahead of his own and decided to stay with them in life or death.
Today, after the floods left a trail of destruction in the village causing severe loss of property and livestock to almost all the 2,500 residents, Srinu stands out as the luckiest and happiest man having saved himself and all his cattle from the nature’s fury.
Eighty-eight cattle heads and 54 sheep died in the village. ‘‘When villagers were shouting at me to leave everything behind and join them as they were moving to safer areas, I asked my wife and kids to leave but I stayed back. I took my cattle one by one to the roof-top and tied them there,’’ recalled Srinu narrating his brush with death to Express even as the other villagers followed his tale of ‘bravery’ with admiration.
Srinu and his cattle spent nearly two days atop his house without food and water.
‘‘Water had risen considerably by night and it continued to rise further. At one point, I thought I should try and move the cattle out to safety but it was too late. I then decided that I would die with my cattle and sat in one corner,’’ Srinu said.
Srinu was the only man left in the village for two full days when the flood waters almost submerged the place. Later, when the flood receded to some extent a few residents returned to the village on boats to check situation there and were taken in by surprise. ‘‘Inka unnava (Are you still alive)?’’ was their first reaction on spotting Srinu and his animals alive and kicking on the terrace of his house.
Srinu is now busy cleaning the house filled with slush. Asked if he did not fear for his life, he replied, ‘‘What life would I have without my cattle?’
–Agencies–