Assam Flood: 129 Wild Animals Dead In Kaziranga Park, CM Sarma Shares Video Of Stranded Rhino Calf

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday shared a video of a stranded rhino calf in Kaziranga National Park, shedding light on the plight of the wild animal in the renowned park, which has been severely affected by devastating floods for several weeks.

In the video posted on the social media platform ‘X’, Sarma captured the sight of the rhino calf standing amid the flooded park.

“Recently, while passing through Kaziranga, I noticed this stranded rhino calf and instructed its immediate rescue. The #AssamFloods have affected humans and animals alike, and Team Assam is working round the clock to aid everyone,” Sarma wrote in his post.

The floods have taken a heavy toll in the famed national park this year, with at least 129 wild animals reported dead.

According to officials, as of Saturday, 114 animals, including six rhinos, 100 hog deer, two sambar, and an otter, had died due to drowning and other causes. Twenty animals died during treatment, while 96 have been successfully rescued, including species like hog deer, rhinos, sambar, and others.

The park is experiencing the worst inundation in recent years, surpassing the devastation of 2017, which claimed the lives of 350 animals.

This year’s floods have affected about 22.70 lakh people across 28 districts in Assam, claiming at least 78 lives due to landslides and storms in the state. Nine major rivers, including the Brahmaputra and Barak, continue to flow above the danger mark in several places.

Dhubri continued to be the worst hit with 7,54,791 affected people, followed by Cachar with 1,77,928 people affected and Barpeta where 1,34,328 people have been hit.

Multiple agencies, including NDRF, SDRF and local administration, have been carrying out relief and rescue operations with 171 boats deployed in different parts of the state.

(With inputs from PTI)