Large parts of the Kaziranga National Park in Assam have become inundated, leaving animals marooned on small patches of land, an ANI video showed on Wednesday. At least six hog deer have been killed and almost two-thirds of the national park is believed to be under water.
The Kaziranga National Park is home to the endangered one-horned rhinoceroses.
The forest officials have been working to ensure the animals are shifted to a safer place. “More than 50% of the area is submerged,” M Das, assistant conservator at Kaziranga National Park, told The Indian Express. “Elephants, rhinos and deer have been migrated to Karbi Hills as flood levels are expected to rise.”
Forest guards are patrolling the park at night to save animals from poachers, PTI reported.
The latest flood report released by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority says the human toll has risen to 39. Of the 32 districts, 23 have been affected by the deluge, including Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Golaghat, Cacher, Morigaon, Nagaon and Kokrajhar. At least 208 relief camps and distribution centres have been set up for more than 15 lakh people who have been affected.
The Brahmaputra has been flowing above the red mark since Monday. The rising water levels of its tributaries as well as the Barak river and its offshoots have also contributed to the crisis situation.
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