Water from the Ranganadi river overflows into National Highway 52, disrupting traffic in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts of Assam on Friday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Dibrugarh, April 23: Two persons were drowned while several animals of Dibru-Saikhowa National Park were feared swept away as incessant rains worsened the flood situation in Upper Assam today.

Ninety per cent of the national park, spread across Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts, was flooded, forcing animals to move to the highlands, said M. Sonowal, ranger of the Guijan range of the park.

“We have asked our men at the Pathalibam camp to immediately vacate the camp and come back. A team has left to rescue them from the massive floods,” Sonowal said.

Though there is no official report of death of any wild animals, a source said some animals had been swept away by the swirling waters of the Dibru and Dangori rivers which criss-crosses through the national park.

Wildlife Trust of India veterinarian Abhijit Bhawal said till now one cub of a jungle cat and a vulture had been recovered from the fringe areas of the national park.

“We have decided to send a team comprising volunteers and vets to find if any other animal is in danger,” Bhawal said over phone from Tinsukia.

Ciranjeeb Gogoi, a member of the environmental NGO Aaranyak, said it would offer help to the park authorities to rescue the marooned animals.

“We have already formed a 10-member team which had started conducting surveys in the affected zones,” Gogoi said.

A large number of villages, including Natungaon, Garamjan, Erasuti and Balijan, under Tinsukia revenue circle are struggling to stay afloat, affecting 1,000 people.

Two persons, who could not be identified, drowned in Dibru river when they went to fetch wood on a country boat.

In Lakhimpur district, the flood situation, which had improved on Thursday, turned grim once again today with water gushing out through a damaged embankment along Singora river inundating more than 20 villages under the Naoboicha revenue circle.

Naoboicha MLA S.R. Subba, who visited some of the affected areas today, assured all help to the affected people who have complained that the North East Electric Power Corporation (Neepco) had released excessive water last night from its reservoir of the Ranganadi project without any warning.

“It is only because of Neepco the people are suffering here. Around 20,000 people have been affected in the villages under Naoboicha revenue circle, Horen Sarma,” a local resident alleged.

However, J. Choudhury, senior manager, Neepco, Ranganadi Project, said over telephone from the project site that no water had been released either on Thursday or Wednesday from the dams reservoir.

“There was partial release of water on April 20 which we had done maintaining all norms, like sending prior information to the Lakhimpur district administration, Choudhury said.

Most of the rivers in Upper Assam, including the Brahmaputra, are flowing above the danger level and the situation may worsen in the next couple of days if the rain continues.