Assam: 75% areas of Kaziranga under water, state government cancelled all leaves of forest staff
Guwahati, July 13 (IBNS): The flood situation in Assam worsened and along with the other parts of the state, the Kaziranga National Park has also been affected.
Over 75 percent areas of the national park have been submerged by flood waters and the animals were forced to flee to safer places.
According to the Assam state forest department, a total of 95 forest camps in the park are affected in the current flood.
The park authorities set up road barricades on the National Highway 37 passing through the park to limit the speed of the vehicles.
The forest department and park authorities have introduced time card to restrict and monitor speed of vehicles to avoid hitting animals.
Meanwhile, a hog deer died after hit by a vehicle at Bagori area under the national park while the hog deer was trying to cross the National Highway 37.
On the other hand, the forest staff and the park authorities have rescued several animals from the flood affected areas of the park.
Meanwhile, in view of the present flood situation, the Assam state forest department has kept on hold leaves for all forest staff who are deployed in Kaziranga National Park and other wildlife areas in the state.
Assam Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya has directed the forest department to cancel all leaves of the forest staff and ground staff during the flood season.
“The water levels have been gradually increased in past 4-5 days. So that, we are facing lot of problems and the forest ground staff are trying to stop any animal casualty during the flood. We are introducing time card on the National Highway passing through the park to prevent any accident as the animals are crossing the road while water level increased in the park. The forest minister directed that, there is no provision of leave during this emergency time. All leaves of the forest staff deployed in the wildlife areas, have been cancelled following directive of the minister. A total of 95 forest camps in the park are now under water and over 75 percent areas of the Kaziranga National Park have been submerged by the flood waters,” Sailen Pandey, PRO of Assam forest department said.
(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)
