Himanta Biswa Sarma visits flood-hit areas of Kaziranga National Park

NUMALIGARH: State Health and Finance Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday visited the flood-affected areas of Kaziranga National Park and took stock of the situation.

The Health Minister travelled from Mihimukh to Bagori in a speed boat. The minister was accompanied by State Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Member of Parliament Kamakhya Prasad Tassa, PCCF Wildlife MK Yadava and other senior forest officials. He also visited a few inundated forest camps and exchanged talks with the front line forest guards.

It has been almost two weeks since the second wave of flood hit the Kaziranga National Park and submerged 95 per cent of the total mass area of the park. Thousands of animals were affected by the flood water this year. A large number of animals took shelter on the man-made highlands inside the park whereas some chose to leave the protected area and rushed to the higher grounds in hilly areas of Karbi Anglong across the NH-37, that is on the south border of the park. The Kaziranga National Park is still reeling under flood water more or less and 85 per cent of the total area is submerged, according to Forest department report. The report also stated that a total of 113 animals have died in this flood season and 140 animals have been rescued. Total 63 animals have died from drowning and 15 have died from vehicle hits. So far, 115 of the rescued animals have been released back into the wild after providing any required medical treatment.

The current Assam flood scenario got a little better by the weekend but the rising water level of the Brahmaputra is causing concern among the forest officials of the national park again. The recent water level of River Brahmaputra, recorded by the Central Water Commission (CWC), is alarming for both Kaziranga National Park and the people living in the downstream areas. As of 4 PM on Monday, water level of River Brahmaputra recorded by CWC at Pasight was 154.18 metres, which is flowing above the danger level of 153.96 metres and is in a rising trend. Similarly, the water level of River Brahmaputra at Dibrugarh was recorded at 105.78 metres, which is above the danger level of 107.5 metres, and the water level recorded at Neematighat was 86.76 metres which is above the danger level of 85.4 metres. The water level of River Brahmaputra at Dibrugarh and Neematighat is also in a rising trend in both the places. On the other hand, the water level of River Brahmaputra at Dhanshreemukh recorded by the CWC was 75.60 metres which is above the danger mark of 75 metres and the water level is in a rising trend.

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