BARPETA, Oct 14 - The Manas National Park-cum-Tiger Project has been severely affected by the devastating flood during the last three days. Floodwaters of the Beki river have entered the park through the broken embankment at Panchmail under the Bahbari range of the park and inundated a vast area. The embankment was washed away during the flood in July this year.
The release of waters from the Kuriswu dyke in Bhutan has been attributed to the untimely flood. Most roads inside the park have been flooded which has made movement impossible for both the park personnel and tourists alike. The scenic Mathanguri, the main tourist attraction, has turned into an island as the road to Mathanguri has been washed away. Animals have been stranded on narrow highlands.
A park officer said that no loss of wildlife has been reported from any part of the park till now. He also stated that patrolling on elephant backs is being done round the clock and tourists have also been provided elephant rides within limited areas. But the movement of tourists in vehicles has been suspended.
Meanwhile, tour operators in the park have suffered a setback as the roads washed away by the flood will take a long time to repair. They requested the Forest department to expedite the process of reconstruction of all roads, specially the one leading to Mathanguri, after the flood subsides.
