TNN

GUWAHATI, Sep 5: The overall flood situation in Assam worsened on Thursday with thousands of people being rendered homeless.

The authorities are also trying hard to save endangered animals which have taken refuge on National Highway 37 after Kaziranga National Park was inundated. At least four animals have been killed by the speeding vehicles in the last two days, while a rhinoceros has drowned in flood waters.

The authorities said so far 12 lakh people have been displaced in the state. This is the third time since June 1 that Assam has been ravaged by rising rivers. So far, 17 people have died due to the floods.

As a precautionary measure, the Golaghat administration has clamped Section 144 on NH 37 that runs along Kaziranga so that vehicles do not overrun fleeing animals. Deputy Commissioner (Golaghat) Diwakar Misra said: ‘‘We have promulgated prohibitory orders along the highway. Police personnel have been deployed to ensure that vehicles do not run beyond 40 km an hour.’’

The flood situation turned grim in central and lower Assam districts but showed signs of improvement in upper Assam where the Brahmaputra has begun to recede. The mighty river, however, inundated over 4,000 hectares at Mayong in Morigaon district. Revenue and disaster management minister Bhumidhar Barman said the government has released Rs 700 crore for relief work.