Assam floods: 95 forest camps submerged at Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga (Assam) [India], July 2 (ANI): The flood situation in Kaziranga National Park in Assam has turned critical as the flood waters inundated 95 forest camps. There are a total of 233 camps in the park.

As a result of the flooding, the authorities have vacated six camps.

According to the park authority, the flood waters have submerged all 34 camps in the Agratoli range, 20 in the Kaziranga range, 10 in the Bagori range, 5 in the Burapahar range, 6 in the Bokakhat range and 20 in the Biswanath Wildlife Division.

Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park, said that a wooden bridge near the Moshguli Camp in Agoratoli Range was washed away by floodwaters on Monday, July 1.

“Herds of elephants have started moving towards Karbi Anglong through the Hati Dandi corridor. Heavy traffic diversion has been requested for the NH 715 stretch under Nagaon and Golaghat districts. Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) has also been issued,” Ghosh said.

She also said that rescue teams and veterinary care units are on standby for immediate deployment.

“Boats, boatlines, barricades, raincoats, rescue materials, and medicines have been procured and are already deployed. Country boats, speedboats and mechanised boats have been strategically deployed in key areas for swift response,” Ghosh said.

Barricades have been placed on highways to control traffic and ensure the safe passage of wildlife, Ghoash added.

“Animal sensors are in place and are fully operational. Joint patrolling by commando action groups and forest teams is being conducted regularly. Additional staff from neighbouring divisions have been deployed to intensify patrolling. Joint patrolling in the fringe areas of the park is being carried out by the Forest and Police Departments,” Ghosh added.

Ghosh further said that a dedicated floodwater gauge station has been set up with support from the Central Water Commission (CWC). Activation of a flood monitoring cell to provide real-time updates and coordinate rescue operations, Ghosh added.

“Rescue teams and veterinary care units are on standby for immediate deployment. Health check-ups for staff and elephants have been conducted to ensure they are fit for the flood season,” Ghosh said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a telephone conversation, assured Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of full cooperation from the Centre in tackling the flood in the state.

CM Himanta said he elaborated to PM Modi, about the floods triggered by heavy rains and also briefed him about the relief measures being taken by the state.

“Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji called me a short while ago to enquire about the flood situation in Assam. I explained him that Assam is experiencing a second wave of floods this year due to heavy rains in Arunachal Pradesh and part of our upper Assam districts. I also briefed him about the relief measures undertaken by the state government,” Sarma said in a post on X on Monday, June 1.

“He assured me of full cooperation from the Government of India in this hour of crisis,” he added.