GUWAHATI: The flood situation in Assam has improved considerably with the affected population decreasing below nine lakh in 19 districts and no human deaths reported in the past 48 hours, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority informed on Sunday evening.
Barring Goalpara district, where a population of about three lakh remains affected, the other affected districts, including South Salmara and Dhubri, have witnessed a substantial drop in the number of deluge-hit people in the past couple of days.
The Brahmaputra however continues to flow above danger level in Jorhat, Sonitpur and Dhubri districts, the Central Water Commission reported on Sunday morning.
It may be mentioned that the overall deluge death toll in the state since May stands at 109.
Rescue and relief operations by the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are underway in the flood-hit districts. SDRF personnel along with residents evacuated 18 stranded persons in Dhubri district to safer places on Sunday.
A population of 11,887 is currently taking shelter in 93 relief camps/centres in 11 districts.
On the other hand, the flood-related death toll of animals at Kaziranga National Park has climbed to 147 even as the water level has receded with just 18 of the 223 camps inundated.
Besides, 170 animals of the park have been rescued so far, the DFO, Eastern Assam Wildlife division, reported on Sunday.
Official sources informed that a three to four-day-old rhino calf was rescued by the park staff on Sunday morning and taken to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) on the park premises for further observation.
“All possible efforts will be taken to reunite the calf with its mother. Search operation was conducted but she could not be located today. The search will resume tomorrow. In the meantime, the ground staff have been instructed to look for signs,” park sources said.