Assam flood situation grim, Pobitora sanctuary under water

Morigaon (Assam): As Assam continues to reel under the devastating impact of floods, the Brahmaputra river has submerged 60 percent of the rhino habitat Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary located in Morigaon district near Guwahati.

The floods have also damaged around 50 per cent infrastructure of the Sanctuary which is the world's densest habitat of the Great Indian one-horn rhinoceros, said Forest Department officials here today.

Several link roads connecting to Pobitora WLS were submerged and even washed away in some places, they said.

The sanctuary authorities has tightened security system to combat poaching in the sanctuary during the floods.

However, due to non-availability of funds the patrolling mechanised boats as well as country boats used for protection of the wildlife could not be repaired.

Due to non-availability of mechanised boats, it has become difficult for guards inside the flood ravaged areas of Pobitora WLS to perform their duties effectively, they said.

Fund constraints for the last three months was also hindering repair works of its five anti-poaching camps - Kuchiyani, Kolabhuyan, Kukkari, Tuplung, and Nekera - that were destroyed by storm and flood causing the forest guards to face serious problems in anti-poaching operations.

Meanwhile, the flood situation in Assam continues to remain grim with over 1.35 lakh people affected in Lakhimpur, Golaghat, Morigaon, Barpeta and Jorhat districts, according to the Assam state disaster management authority.

Two persons - a man and his son - were washed away in Jorhat district yesterday.

The Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark at Nematighat in Jorhat and Dhubri town, while river Dhansiri at Numaligarh in Golaghat, it said.