Guwahati, Sep 4 : Animals in Kaziranga National Park and Pabitar wildlife sanctuary have moved to highlands to escape floods in the Brahmaputra river.

Animals fled to higher ground in Kaziranga National Park after the Brahmaputra burst its banks and flooded most of the park, home to more than half of the world''s population of one-horned rhinoceros.

According to reports, at least two rhino calves were drowned and a number of elephants were swept away by floodwaters.

Situation in Pabitar wild life sanctuary, another sanctuary famous for one-horned rhinoceros is no different. Rhinos and other animals have been also moving to elevated grounds and taking shelter in dry areas to escape floods.

"About 80 per cent of the area is inundated by the flood water but now they are moving towards artificial highland," said Mukul Tamuli, Range officer, Pabitara Wild Life sanctuary.

The flood situation in the state remains grim with the floodwaters inundating 167 villages in the largest river island Majuli.

According to latest reports, the Brahmaputra along with its tributaries was flowing above the danger level in the districts of Dibrugarh, Sonitpur, Dhubri, Jorhat and Kamrup where the national highway NH-31 was breached, cutting off the north-east region from the rest of the country. (ANI)