Assam, July 7: Assam has experienced the worst floods in several years as 27 of its 28 districts are inundated. Lakhs of people have been displaced and even animals at the Kaziranga National Park aren't spared.
At the Kaziranga National Park it has become a struggle of survival. The rhinoceros and other animals that the park is famous for are struggling in the face of incessant rain and flooding. Much of the park is under water and helpless animals are moving to higher ground. At least 540 animals have perished.
The perished animals include 13 rhinos, two of them killed by poachers. Hog deer are the worst hit with 465 of them drowning in flood waters. 28 wild boars and 16 Sambars have also died.
At least for the people living within the forest reserve there is some hope. The Army is helping villagers relocate to safer camps.
"We have made eight to ten relief camps in the schools area so far. One in this school and two more at the schools nearby and one on the road ahead of those schools as it's a high place and it is surrounded by flood water," a local said.
Major General, GOC Red Horns Division RN Nair said, "At the moment all the range officers and the frontline staff they are assessing the damage caused to the assets like roads, bridges and buildings.”
But the supply of food and essentials continue to remain a problem. "Out of eight days we got rice on three days and two days we got biscuits and one day we got porridge," said a flood victim.
The floods have already claimed over 115 lives in the state and most of the districts are inundated. The rain has stopped, but many rivers remain dangerously high.
Services officers at Kaziranga National park help in evacuation of the villagers and animals from flood affected areas to safer locations.
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