Duo from TS to peddle 2,500 km to sensitise motorists on animal deaths
Padma Sandesh Gupta and his friend Veligandula Naresh are on a bicycle ride covering a distance of over 2,000 kilometres to create awareness on death of animals in accidents on National Highways
Mancherial: Padma Sandesh Gupta, an avid animal lover, has embarked on a bicycle ride from Mancherial to holy town Varanasi, covering a distance of over 2,000 kilometres to create awareness on death of animals in accidents on National Highways.
He was joined by his friend Veligandula Naresh, a resident of Metpalli in Jagtial district, in the arduous 60-day long mission.
The founder of Friends Animal Trust, a Mancherial-based voluntary organisation that works towards feeding monkeys, Sandesh told Telangana Today that he started the service because he was moved by the growing incidents of wild animals being run over on roads. “Our aim is to sensitise the public and motorists who are busy in reaching their destinations to avoid accidents and cremate the bodies in case of mishaps,” he reasoned.
Sandesh offered prayers at Sri Hanuman-Shirdi Sai temple in Hamaliwada before setting out to the temple town. His mother Jayalaxmi, father Nagabhushanam, siblings Santosh, Sandeep and sister-in-law Nagalaxmi, friends, family members and well-wishers appreciated their effort towards the cause. Jayalaxmi expressed joy at her son’s novel attempt.
The 31-year-old said that he was taking up the long journey with the help of donations by philanthropists, donors and public representatives and support from his friends. He stated that they both would perform final rites of animals crushed to death on national highways during their journey. He added that they would cover nearly 2,500 kilometres during the journey.
The activist has adorned his bicycle with a tricolor flag. “We are planning to reach Varanasi by 25 days of time and it would take the same amount of time to return to Mancherial district headquarters. The rains and unfavorable climate conditions may delay the journey,” he shared.
Sandesh, with the help of his friends, is known for providing fruits to animals in forests of Jaipur, Jannaram and on the premises of the prominent Sri Satyanarayana Swamy temple at Gudem in Dandepalli mandal and Sri Bugga Raja Rajeshwara Swamy shrine near Kannala village in Bellampalli mandal and many other pilgrim centres on weekends and on certain festivals. They also perform funerals of the animals if they spot their bodies on roads.
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