Flood in Manas:

Manas National Park, which is also a World Heritage Site, has been facing natural threats after facing anthropogenic threats for past two decades. The latest threat to Manas is caused by the devastating flood that has hit Manas thrice from June till mid July 2004. On 15th July, after 10 km walking above knee height deep water on Barpeta Road-Manas road I some how managed to reach Manas National Park’s Bansbari Range office to assess effect of flood on the park in general and in particular to my grassland study site, where I have worked for last four years. I could spend five days during three phases of high flood in Manas.

First Wave of Flood:

On 22nd June 2004, Beki river was found above danger level and tides were seems like sea near Mathanguri and in downstream river has changes it course and washed away the Bispani camp of National park completely along few boats. Both public and private property was damage in adjacent village of the camp. However, water level decreases over time.

Second Wave of Flood:

Again from 8th July 2004 water level increases on the Manas river and by 10th July it has snatched the sleep of forest official and villagers as they could anticipate the worst flood on the card. The flash flood has broken embankment at the boundary of park, resulting more than 2 km forest patch north to Bispani camp were totally wash off. Severe erosion took place near Mathanguri and causing threat to forest bungalow of Mathanguri. Though no human causality has been reported, huge numbers of deer, wildboar, python and other wildlife were drowned.

Third Wave of Flood:

The third waves of flood hit the Manas National park from 14th July. On 15th July, after walking for about 10 km through knee height deep frozen water on Barpeta Road-Manas route, I some how reached Bansbari Range office of the Manas National Park, to assess effect of flood on the park in general and in particular to my grassland study site, where I have worked for last four years.

The fast flowing river Manas enters Indian plains from steep hills of Bhutan and looses its speed. The water from upstream carries enormous quantities of trees, stones and sand, resulting flash flood every year to some extent. This is the first major flood after 1984 and severe damage has been noticed. This could be due to construction of dam at Kurichhu on Manas river in Bhutan side.

The Royal Manas National Park is also severely affected, 45 numbers of drum of diesels, 4 boats were washed off. With the sincere effort of Mr. M.C.Brahma, Ranger officer of Bansbari Range of Manas National Park, some forest staffs were rescued from interior camps.

In this flood, Park Authority had rescued one elephant calf about 4 month of age, seven hog deer, one barking deer, two pythons. All of them were displaced during the high flood time. Except the orphaned elephant calf, which is now under care at Bansbari Range office, other rescued animals were successfully rehabilitated in high raise areas of the park.

Most unfortunately, accessibility to the park is completely lost. On 10 July 2004, floodwater has broken one of the bridge namely Kalpani along with excavated deeply in four different places on the Barpeta Road-Bansbari Road. More worst on 18th July floodwater completely washed away Kalpani bridge. Flood water also submerged more than 10 villages near the park and caused severe damage to crops, houses and livestock. The flood has put both people and livestock on the same road that act as highland during such heavy flood.
 

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