Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi visits flood-affected Kaziranga

A Correspondent

KAZIRANGA: Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi on Sunday made an aerial visit to Kaziranga to take stock of the devastation caused by flood in the National Park.

On his arrival at Bokakhat, the Governor was received by Forest Minister Parimal Shuklabaidya and high-level officials of the district administration. The Governor, accompanied by the Forest Minister visited the flood-affected Kohora range and took stock of the prevailing situation there. The forest officials briefed the Governor of the situation and the extent of damage caused to the flora and fauna of the park. The Governor appreciated the department’s work especially of making raised platforms of highland for the shelter of animals adding that there was a need to have more such raised highland so that animals during floods can take shelter in these highlands which would greatly help in minimising death and casualty of the animals.

The Governor also visited a relief camp at Difolu where the flood-affected people of the fringe areas of the National Park were sheltering there. He talked with the inmates of the relief camp and assured them of all possible help from the district administration. He also visited a relief camp at Bokakhat and directed the civil authorities to provide them with gratuitous relief and also directed the officials of the health department to provide medical facilities to the inmates of the camp, in addition, to keep a strict vigil against the possible outbreak of any epidemic.

The recent floods have claimed the lives of 141 animals, including 12 rhinos till date, in Kaziranga National Park (KNP).

Besides, 64 other animals were injured and rescued. Among them, 52 were released, five died and eight are under treatment in CWRC Panbari. The newly-built 33 highlands for the animals helped them to take shelter during the floods but several of the other old highlands got submerged by the waters of Brahmaputra and Difloo rivers for a couple of days, officials said.

Of the 12 rhinos, two were drowned and one died falling from the Karbi hills, said a KNP official said. He said 16 animals were killed after being hit by vehicles while crossing the NH-37 near the Park. These animals included 15 hog deer and one Sambar. Two rhino cubs were rescued from a village near the park during flood and are under medical treatment in CWRC. Several areas within the KNP are still underwater.

Also read: Flood Toll Rises To 65 Across The State, Water Levels Receding