Assam Floods, Landslides Death Toll Nears 100, Over 75 Animals Die in Kaziranga

In Assam, the death toll from floods and landslides has reached close to 100. So far 71 people have died due to floods and 26 people due to landslides. In the last 24 hours, two people have died in Morigaon, one each in Goalpara, Barpeta and Lakhimpur districts.

According to the State government, 26 districts out of 33 districts in the State are still flooded and more than 45 lakh people are affected.

The flooding has turned out a huge problem for wild animals. So far, more than 75 animals have died in Kaziranga National Park. More than 80% of Kaziranga National Park is submerged. According to the Kaziranga National Park Authority, so far four rhinoceros have drowned, while 61 deers, five wild boars, two buffaloes have also died.

Moreover, the forest workers and the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation have rescued more than 120 wild animals.

Many videos of animals trapped in the flood are also going viral on social media. A video shows how a tiger is standing inside a goat shed to save itself from drowning in the flood.

A sub adult tiger has entered inside a goat shed in Kandolimari Village (Agartoli Range) to escape flood. Committee is constituted to monitor the situation on regular basis. Utmost care is being taken to ensure safety of both people and Tiger. @ParimalSuklaba1 @GolaghatPolice pic.twitter.com/kBV7uvtK57

— Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve (@kaziranga_) July 13, 2020

A video can be seen clearly of how a herd of elephants is trying to cross floodwater to climb up to a safer place.

Elephants crossing flood water to climb up the Karbi Anglong hills. @GolaghatPolice @kaziranga_ @iam_Pirai @SaikiaRohini pic.twitter.com/ci9nZbWuLQ

— Rupok Doley (@RupokDoley4) July 16, 2020

The flood report of the State Disaster Management Department said that 3,363 villages under 91 revenue areas of 26 districts are submerged and crops of about 1.29 lakh hectares have been destroyed due to floods. At present, 37,592 flood-affected people have been shifted to 247 relief camps. The water level of some small rivers in the state is decreasing but the Brahmaputra river is still flowing above the danger level at Nematighat in Jorhat district and at Tezpur, Guwahati, Goalpara and Dhubri in Sonitpur district.