DEHRADUN: A preliminary digital analysis of the Nanda Devi National Park revealed extensive damage to flora and fauna of the sanctuary, a Unesco World heritage site, caused by the flash flood. Forest officials said that Raunthi area, the core zone of the national park, had been badly hit.
Also, according to experts of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) as well as other institutes studying reasons behind the flood, the water had further damaged a 22km stretch from Raunthi to Tapovan. The current had sliced off a side of the mountain, sweeping away trees, medicinal herbs, shrubs, endangered species like musk deer, Himalayan goats as well as leopards.
“The preliminary digital analysis, done by expert scientists, shows around 200 hectares of the forest has been lost. In terms of area, the losses can amount to several lakhs, as it was the habitat of precious trees and animals — Himalayan birch, Pindrow Fir, Surai, Kaangar and Kael as well as musk deer, Himalayan goats, bharals, and leopards,” said range officer of Vijay Lal Arya. A forest team will give its final report by the end of this week, said DFO of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve NB Sharma. “The team is yet to reach the actual spot, as there is no connectivity,”he said.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, officials of the forest department said that “the loss in monetary terms may turn out to be immense after an adequate evaluation is done”. An official said, “The area is among some of the rarest in the Himalayan zone and its flora and fauna has been devastated.”