KOLKATA (Oct 6) — Torrential rains have unleashed severe flooding across the Dooars region of north Bengal, killing several wild animals and inundating large stretches of forest, officials said on Monday.
At least seven wild animals, including one rhinoceros, two leopards and four sambar deer, have died so far, according to Chief Wildlife Warden (CWW) Sandeep Sundriyal. The floods were triggered by heavy rains that caused major rivers — including the Torsha, Jaldhaka, Kaljani and Diana — to overflow, sweeping through wildlife habitats in the area.
“The water levels rose rapidly, leaving very little time for forest personnel to carry out rescue operations,” Sundriyal told PTI, adding that teams have been deployed to assess the full extent of damage across the affected forest divisions.
The Dooars, known for its dense forests and rich biodiversity, is home to elephants, rhinos, leopards, bison, and several deer species. Wildlife officials said that while rescue teams managed to drive some animals to higher ground, many perished as flash floods cut off forest corridors and submerged low-lying areas.
Forest guards and local volunteers are patrolling the submerged zones to locate stranded or injured animals. Veterinary teams have also been mobilised to treat rescued wildlife.
Preliminary reports indicate that parts of Jaldapara National Park and Buxa Tiger Reserve are among the worst affected, though a complete assessment is still underway.
“This kind of flooding is unusual for October and has severely impacted the wildlife corridors connecting Assam and north Bengal,” a senior forest officer said.
The state forest department has initiated a review of flood management systems and is coordinating with the disaster management authorities to prevent further losses.