Jorhat, June 24: Bokakhat and Kaliabor sub-divisional administration has issued orders restricting the speed of vehicles plying on National Highway 37 along the stretch passing through Kaziranga National Park in the wake of increasing water level of the Brahmaputra.

Nearly 70km of the national highway passes through or touches the national park and animals of the park cross the highway to the safety of highlands during the floods.

There are frequent incidents of animals being knocked down by speeding vehicles on the highway.

The particular stretch of national highway falls under Bokakhat and Kaliabor sub-divisions in Golaghat and Nagaon districts respectively.

In separate orders issued by the authorities of the sub-divisional administrations yesterday, drivers have been directed not to cross a 40km per hour speed limit on that stretch of the national highway.

Parking of heavy vehicles along the stretch has also been banned as it might obstruct the movement of animals, the order said.

The order has also banned the movement of people armed with lethal weapons in and around the national park for the safety of the animals.

A Kaziranga official said though the flood situation in the national park is not yet alarming, precautionary measures have to be taken as the water level of the Brahmaputra has been increasing in the last few days due to heavy rain.

The river has crossed the danger level in several parts of Upper Assam since yesterday. The ferry service between the island and the mainland Jorhat had to be suspended as well .

The park official said a few animals, mostly deer, have already crossed over to the adjacent Karbi Anglong hills, as rainwater has submerged some areas of the park.

The official said it was a tough time for the forest guards during the floods as the animals stray out of the park and fall easy prey to poachers.

"We have to stay vigilant round-the-clock and keep a close watch on rhinos that stray out of the park," he said.

The National Green Tribunal had already ordered demolition of roadside shops and eateries along the animal corridors near Kaziranga in the wake of increasing wildlife casualties because of traffic on the national highway.

The tribunal had also directed the Assam government to clear its stand on eco-sensitive zones and how it has permitted large-scale hotel projects to come up in and around the national park, home to the famous one-horned rhinos.

It had asked the state to inform it about the steps it has taken to prevent animal deaths on the roads by vehicles.