Kaziranga swamped; 1.6mn people affected

OVER 12,5OO PEOPLE UPROOTED BY FLOODING IN THE AREA ARE LIVING IN 163 RELIEF CAMPS

GUWAHATI: Flood caused by heavy rains continued to wreak havoc in Assam on Thursday, affecting over 1.6 million people in 22 of the state’s 33 districts.

Nearly 80% area of the Kaziranga National Park, the biggest habitat of one-horned rhinos spread over 430 sq km, is inundated by flood waters. Twenty five animals have died due to various causes including drowning and vehicle-hit while trying to cross roads during floods.

According to park authorities, 73 of the 223 camps used by forest personnel to patrol the park have been inundated and six of them vacated. Carcass of a rhino, which died due to natural causes, was recovered on June 26. According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 1.6 million people in 2,053 villages in 60 revenue circles were affected by floods. On Thursday, one person died due to drowning in Goalpara district, taking the total deaths this season to 34.

As total of 12,597 people uprooted by flooding are taking shelter in 163 relief camps. Over 72,000 hectares of crop area have been inundated by flood waters.

A total of 2,852 persons stranded due to flooding were rescued on Thursday. Several instances of damage to embankments, roads, bridges and erosion were reported from many parts of the state.

According to Central Water Commission (CWC), Brahmaputra continued to flow over the danger mark at Nematighat, Goalpara and Dhubri, Dhansiri breached the danger mark at Numaligarh, Jia Bharali at Sonitpur and Kopili at Dharamtul.