Subdistrict chief becomes cowboy

Subdistrict chief becomes cowboy

PEKANBARU, Riau: Rengat subdistrict chief Purnomo was
nicknamed "Cowboy" after helping the people herd 1,200 cows to
grounds safe from flooding last week.

The bovine exodus was sparked when floods devoured vast areas
throughout Riau after several deceptively sunny days. Earlier
last week, floods inundated hundreds of houses and forced
thousands of people to seek refuge.

"Pak (Mr.) Purnomo was seen herding and dragging cows like the
cowboys we see on TV," Antara said quoting a resident.

Purnomo said the latest floods came so suddenly that many
people did not have time to safeguard their belongings. "It was a
terrible disaster," he said.

He said 39 heads of cattle, four buffaloes, 352 goats and
several thousand chickens were swallowed by the floodwaters.
(pan)