As heavy rain and flooding continue to affect several parts of India, including Assam, Kerala, Gujarat and Odisha, the monsoon is creating another, often overlooked, crisis on the streets. Stray animals are being left vulnerable to rising water levels, unsafe roads, hunger, injuries, infections and displacement. Adivi Sesh and his team are tying up with local animal-welfare NGOs and rescue groups across key cities including Gurugram, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune as well as flood-affected areas with the network. The on-ground effort will focus on rescuing stranded and injured animals, arranging temporary shelter, food, clean drinking water and medical assistance.
Talking to mid-day, he said, “The monsoon is beautiful for many of us, but for thousands of stray animals, especially street dogs, it can become one of the most difficult times of the year. While we have homes to return to when it rains, they are left searching for dry corners, food, and safety. Flooded roads, speeding traffic, infections, and lack of shelter make survival incredibly difficult. I think it’s easy to overlook them because we’re all busy navigating our own lives, but sometimes it only takes a moment to notice an animal shivering in the rain or struggling to find a safe place. That one moment of compassion can make a huge difference.”
Sesh is calling for greater community participation alongside local animal-welfare organisations and rescuers, particularly when animals are injured, stranded or unable to find shelter. He is urging citizens to provide temporary refuge, food and clean drinking water, and to alert rescue teams when medical intervention is required. “You don’t have to be an animal rescuer to help. Something as simple as placing a bowl of clean water and food outside your home, allowing a stray to take refuge under a covered space during heavy rain, or making a quick call to a local rescue organisation when you see an injured animal can save a life. I truly admire the incredible work that animal welfare NGOs, rescuers, and volunteers do every single day, often with very limited resources. They deserve all the help the community can offer. I hope to see more people coming out not just in monsoon but all through the year to volunteer, donate, foster rescued animals or just spread awareness. Compassion is not about grand gestures; it is about the small acts of kindness we choose to give each day. The way we treat animals says a lot about who we are as a society. If we can create neighbourhoods where people collectively look after the strays around them, we can save countless lives. They cannot ask us for help in words, but they depend on our humanity. I hope this monsoon inspires all of us to be a little kinder, a little more mindful, and a lot more compassionate.”
Adivi Sesh urges fans to rescue stranded dogs during the monsoon
