Heavy rains have flooded Kaziranga National Park in northern India. Areas inhabited by many endangered species have been flooded. Local media reported that 11 animals have drowned in the floods. Numerous towns with a population of over a million people have also been flooded.
The Indian state of Assam has been facing heavy rains for several days. The Brahmaputra River has burst its banks, flooding towns along its banks. The total number of people affected by the disaster is estimated at over 1.1 million, of whom 290,000 have had to leave their homes and move to relief camps.
A difficult rescue operation
The Kaziranga National Park is also located on the Brahmaputra River – a sanctuary for many endangered animal species, including the symbols of the park, the Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis). As reported on Wednesday by the Hindustan Times portal, most of the park area was covered with at least 1.5 meters of water.
The element proved fatal to 11 animals, including a young rhinoceros and an endangered Chital deer (Axis porcinus). Rangers said the mammals died of natural causes, drowning and exhaustion.
A rescue operation was also carried out in the flooded areas, in which, in addition to the park guards, rescuers from the Indian National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) took part. They managed to secure 65 animals, which were handed over to the care of veterinarians. Some of the animals managed to reach higher ground, where they were safe.
Many states affected
Heavy rains in late June and early July caused flooding not only in Assam. In the eastern state of Manipur, the state government closed schools until Thursday. On the other side of India, in Gujarat, heavy rain blocked roads, submerged homes and caused power and water outages in several villages.
Main image source: Reuters