Guwahati: The human toll in Assam floods rose to 67 Monday, while Forest Department officials said that a total of 187 animals including 15 one horned rhinos, an elephant and over 100 deer have died. The toll in the Assam floods increased after the death of two more persons in last 24 hours, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said. However, it also stated that the flood situation is improving gradually.
As of Monday, 33,55,837 people are still affected by the flood in over 2,000 villages in the Dhemaji, Biswanath, Darrang, Barpeta, Nalbari, Chirang, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, South Salmara, Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup, Morigaon, Nagaon, Jorhat, Golaghat and Cachar districts.
The current wave of floods have submerged almost 90 per cent of the Kaziranga National Park, forcing the wild animals to stray out to take shelter on higher ground while flood waters have also submerged the anti-poaching camps over the last one week.
The park authorities have, however, said that the situation is improving gradually as the water level has been receding. “The flood water level is showing a falling trend and we have recorded that the water level had fallen by 162 cm till Monday morning,” an official of the Park said, adding that Forest Department staff have been working hard along with villagers to protect the distressed wild animals.
Sixteen animals – 15 hog deer and a sambar – were killed by speeding vehicles on National Highway 37 while 15 rhinos and an elephant died of drowning. “A total of 13 wild boar, 12 sambar, six hog deer, two water buffaloes and three porcupines have also died due to drowning,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the ASDMA officials said Monday that over 1,14,179 hectares of agricultural land, including with standing crops, continued to be affected by floods and close to 97,000 people are living in 757 relief camps set up by district administrations.
IANS