Tropical cyclone Roanu finally broke up on Sunday after causing a week of death and destruction across South Asia. More than 24 people were killed and 5 lakh evacuated in Bangladesh because of heavy rains and landslides. In Sri Lanka, near which Roanu began life on May 14, the administration is still picking up the pieces.

As many as 82 people have died on the island nation in the Indian Ocean since last week and 118 are still missing. Lakhs of people have been displaced due to landslides triggered by the heaviest rains in over a quarter century.

While most others are focusing on pulling out survivors and bodies from the muddy debris of landslides, at least one Sri Lankan woman and her team are making sure that no animals are left behind.

Otara Gunewardene’s passion for environment conservation and her love for animals made her launch Embark in 2007. The organisation aims to provide a better life for Sri Lanka’s street dogs through programmes such as rabies vaccination, sterilisation surgeries, puppy adoptions and caring for injured street dogs.

After the recent deluge, Gunewardene and her team stepped up to rescue pets and strays stranded in water-logged areas.

“We are mostly rescuing people’s pets who were left behind during the floods,” said the former model, who owns a popular lifestyle chain. “People are already under a lot of stress and trauma and to leave their pets behind has caused them greater discomfort.”

Gunewardene has shared several pictures on social media over the past few days to underline the misery the animals have been saved from.