Flood situation in Kaziranga National Park slightly improves

A CORRESPONDENT

NUMALIGARH: The water in flood-hit Kaziranga National Park (KNP) started receding slowly on Wednesday. However, the situation has not returned to normal as yet.

Hundreds of animals are still migrating towards the higher grounds of Karbi hills to the south of the national park. Around 70 per cent of Kaziranga National Park's total mass area has been reeling under the first wave of the flood since last week. As per information provided by the KNP authority, more than three inches of flood water-level of river Brahmaputra receded in the last 24 hours. KNP authority also released a statement according to which out of the total 223 forest camps of the park comprised by Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, Biswanath Wildlife Division and Nagaon Wildlife Division, a total of 107 forest camps were inundated by flood water. The situation in the Biswanath Division seems grim as six forest camps were vacated recently due to the flood. As on Wednesday, a total of 18 animals of the park lost their lives in this year's flood. One wild boar and one swamp deer died by drowning in floodwater, whereas 7 hog deer were killed by speeding vehicles on NH-37. One rhino also died and the KNP authority said that the cause of death was natural. More than 30 animals sustained injuries due to the flood in the park and were rescued by forest staff, CWRC team and local people. Two hog deer also died while under treatment at the CWRC centre. Barricades have been set up in all the animal corridors on NH-37 throughout the national park. The system of issuing time cards to vehicles also started functioning last week.

An officer of the KNP authority stated that despite the efforts to enforce the speed limit of 40 km/hr, a total of 622 vehicles plying through the NH-37 violated the speed limit. All the details will be sent to the transport offices concerned and penalties will be levied.

Forest guards are patrolling on boats in the flooded areas inside the park and also patrolling on foot and vehicles across the NH-37 for giving the animals a safe passage to the higher grounds.

To take a stock of the situation, State Environment and Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, PCCF & HoFF AM Singh and Additional PCCF (Wildlife) MK Yadav paid a visit to Kaziranga National Park on Wednesday.

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