Kendrapara, With the annual headcount exercise of <keyword id="1644160" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="estuarine-crocodiles">estuarine crocodiles</keyword> getting underway, <keyword id="148468" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bhitarkanika">Bhitarkanika</keyword> National Park in Odisha would remain out of bounds for nine days of this month for nature lovers who long for savouring the warmth of congenial wetland spots, officials said. The national park is being shut from January 15 to 23 for the annual census of the estuarine crocodiles. As many as 22 teams have been constituted to count the crocodiles in the creeks, nullahs and rivers within the park and its nearby areas. The national park's closure during the period will ensure the smooth and human interference-free census operation. Any form of human activity would come in the way of the meticulous census of these reptiles. That's why the curb on tourists' footfall has been imposed, said the <keyword id="74385" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="divisional-forest-officer">Divisional Forest Officer</keyword>, Bhitarkanika Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Division, Bikash Ranjan Dash. Bhitarkanika is said to house 70 per cent of India's estuarine crocodile or <keyword id="1802014" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="saltwater-crocodiles">saltwater crocodiles</keyword>, conservation of which was started way back in 1975. The number of saltwater crocodiles, the species which are not found in any other river system in Odisha, as per the latest census, in Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary is estimated to be 1,757, he said. Adequate conservation measures by the <keyword id="6432810" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="state-forest-department">state forest department</keyword> have led to a systematic rise in the number of these reptiles over the years. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-beml-hcl-tech-infosys-tech-mahindra-tcs-ril-tata-motors-hero-moto-tvs-and-others/articleshow/80089765.cms">Top stocks to watch — BEML, HCL Tech, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, TCS, RIL, Tata Motors Hero Moto, TVS, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/checkout-upcoming-new-cars-in-year-2021/slidelist/80025993.cms">Upcoming new cars in India in 2021 of Maruti, Tata, MG, Audi</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/questions-arise-about-jack-ma-whereabouts-as-alibaba-faces-scrutiny-from-the-chinese-government/articleshow/80090457.cms">Where is Jack Ma? Questions arise about the billionaire’s whereabouts as Alibaba faces scrutiny from the Chinese government</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/big-money-chasing-bitcoin-takes-the-cryptocurrency-to-a-new-record-high-of-34000/articleshow/80090730.cms">Big money chasing Bitcoin takes the cryptocurrency to a new record high of $34,000</a>

Bhitarkanika National Park to remain shut from January 15-23 as teams take stock of estuarine crocodiles census

'<keyword id="17077595" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="mowgli-schools" source="Orion">Mowgli Schools</keyword>', set up deep in the Dudhwa-Katarniya forest area here, have become an oasis of learning for children of forest dwellers. The schools -- one located in Motipur and another in Barda areas of the forest reserve -- impart education together to around 350 children, most of them aged between seven and 10 years. These children used to wander in the forest area to collect firewood which made them susceptible prey for the wild animals, before the schools were set up by the <keyword id="6356408" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="forest-department" source="Orion">forest department</keyword> officials. Named after the main character "Mowgli" of Rudyard Kipling's 'The Jungle Book', the schools operate in the evening from forest department buildings. "The children are provided with colourful books, comics, sports items, and are also shown cartoons. The schools are run more like tuition centres where children from nearby areas come in the evening and study," said Akashdeep Badhawan, Divisional Forest Officer. Forest department officials said most of the children are from marginalised families. They help their parents in farms during the day and in the evening come to school, the officials said. Earlier, these children use to venture inside the forest in the evening to collect firewood or simply play that made them susceptible prey for wild animals especially big cats like leopards. Located along the Indo-Nepal border, the Dudhwa-Katarniya forest area is a hotspot of man-animal conflict and many cases have even been reported where leopards killed locals, the officials said. The idea of 'Mowgli Schools' took birth five years ago. "The idea is to prevent the children from venturing into the forest by providing them a safe place to play and learn. The number of students in schools has increased over the years. We want the children of the area to become an important part of the society rather than becoming a victim of man-animal conflict," Badhawan said. The children are also taught about the ecology of the area and various animals residing in the reserve. Though there is a dedicated teacher at both schools, forest officials, veterinary experts, <keyword id="413960" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="special-tiger-protection-force" source="Orion">Special Tiger Protection Force</keyword> (STPF) personnel and other government officials also volunteer and take classes. "The parents and other villagers after seeing the educational development of the children are supporting the initiative," the DFO said. The forest department gets support from the <keyword id="95620" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="world-wildlife-fund" source="Orion">World Wildlife Fund</keyword> (<keyword id="14979691" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="wff" source="Orion">WFF</keyword>) and other social organisations to run the schools. These organisations donate teaching equipment, projectors, books and sports items to the schools on regular basis, he said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/rbi-revises-indias-fy24-growth-outlook-expects-softer-inflation-on-the-back-of-lower-commodity-prices/articleshow/99290005.cms">RBI revises India’s FY24 growth outlook, expects softer inflation on the back of lower commodity prices</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/rbis-monetary-policy-committee-keeps-repo-rate-unchanged-at-6-5/articleshow/99284354.cms">RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee keeps repo rate unchanged at 6.5%, for now</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/after-the-ides-of-march-analysts-pick-best-stocks-that-can-be-bought-on-dips/articleshow/99272438.cms">After the Ides of March, analysts pick best stocks that can be bought on dips</a>

UP: 'Mowgli Schools' -- oasis of learning for children in Bahraich's forest

Banda (Uttar Pradesh), More than 1.89 <keyword id="10481084" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="lakh-trees">lakh trees</keyword> have been felled for the construction of the <keyword id="4648165" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bundelkhand-Expressway">Bundelkhand expressway</keyword>, according to an RTI response. The trees were cut in Banda, Chitrakoot, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Aurraiya and Etawah, it said. The 296-km long four-lane road will connect Etawah to Chitrakoot and Uttar Pradesh districts to <keyword id="9319704" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-national-capital-region">the National Capital Region</keyword> via the Yamuna expressway. In a reply to a query by Banda-based activist Kuldeep Shukla, senior manager of the state <keyword id="6356408" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="forest-department">Forest Department</keyword>, Atul Asthana, said that <keyword id="10057938" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-up-expressway-industrial-development-authority">the UP Expressway Industrial Development Authority</keyword> (UPEIDA) has cut 1,89,036 trees for the project. The UPEIDA has planned to plant over 2.70 lakh saplings along the expressway, the RTI added. <keyword id="10481083" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="banda-divisional-forest">Banda Divisional Forest</keyword> Officer Sanjay Agarwal said the trees were cut after permission from the Centre. The expressway will ensure better connectivity of the Bundelkhand area with the national capital region (NCR). SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-infosys-wipro-jubilant-foodworks-bajaj-auto-majesco-and-others/articleshow/79909712.cms">Top stocks to watch – Infosys, Wipro, Jubilant FoodWorks, Bajaj Auto, Majesco, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/there-are-one-of-only-17-indian-companies-out-of-500-that-aced-the-du-pont-test/articleshow/79911627.cms">There are one of only 17 Indian companies out of 500 that aced the Du Pont test</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/wipro-buyback-offer-details-and-700-million-metro-ag-deal-drives-share-price/articleshow/79911875.cms">Wipro offers 10% more to buy back shares and signs a $700 million deal with Metro AG – everything that’s driving the IT services stock higher today</a>

Over 1.89 lakh trees have been cut for the construction of Bundelkhand expressway

While hearing a suo moto petition regarding illegal construction of roads by cutting trees from dense forest areas, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, the Principal Chief <keyword id="1008006" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="conservator-of-forest" source="Orion">Conservator of Forest</keyword>, the Engineer-in-Chief (PWD), the Conservator of Forest (Mandi) and the Divisional Forest Officer. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice A.A. Sayed and Justice <keyword id="7704043" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="jyotsna-rewal-dua" source="Orion">Jyotsna Rewal Dua</keyword> passed the orders on a petition taken up suo moto by the court as public interest litigation, on a letter addressed to the Chief Justice by one Raju, resident of Mandi district. The petitioner has alleged that at the behest of the <keyword id="176551" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="dfo" source="Orion">DFO</keyword> posted in Nachan, thousand of green trees have been cut down in many forest areas in the forest division. The petitioner has further alleged that roads have been constructed illegally by cutting trees from the highly dense forest without clearance under the Forest Conservation Act. It has been alleged that DFO has allowed the construction of many roads by intimidating subordinate officials of the department. Several complainants were addressed to the government, but no action has been taken in the matter. The petitioner has also alleged the forest area has been destroyed despite having a sanctuary region of about a 10 km radius of Shikari Devi-Dehar road. It has been further alleged that at the behest of the DFO, a ground has been constructed at Chail Chowk at a distance of about 100 metres from the rest house by destroying about 500 green trees. The petitioner has prayed to initiate an inquiry and registration of an FIR against the DFO. The matter will be listed for hearing after three weeks.

Illicit road construction by chopping off the trees: Himachal Pradesh HC sent notices to Chief Secretary

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A sloth <keyword id="12174925" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bear" source="Orion">bear</keyword> has mauled a couple to death in Madhya Pradesh, central <keyword id="11892747" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>. </li><li>An autopsy confirmed the bear had contracted rabies but had not fed on the corpses.</li></ul>A rabid sloth bear has mauled a couple to death in Madhya Pradesh, central India, and played with their remains, Indian news outlets report.<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/sloth-bear-mauls-madhya-pradesh-couple-to-death-eat-their-bodies/articleshow/92021923.cms">The Times of India</a> said that the couple had gone to pray at a nearby temple when they encountered the sloth bear on June 5.The newspaper identified the deceased as 43-year-old Mukesh Rai and his wife, 39-year-old Gudiya Rai. The husband was killed when he tried to rescue his wife from the bear's clutches, according to CBS News.Witness reports from earlier in the week that the bear ate parts of the couple after it had killed them, have been refuted, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sloth-bear-attack-kills-couple-india-forest/">CBS News reported</a>. The bear died two hours after it was captured, Divisional Forest Officer Gaurav Sharma told CBS News.An autopsy confirmed the bear had contracted rabies but had not fed on the corpses, Sharma confirmed, said the news outlet.The Times reports that the dependents of the deceased couple will be given 400,000 Indian Rupees ($5,118) in compensation. According to the <a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/sloth-bear">Smithsonian</a><a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/sloth-bear"> National Zoo</a>, sloth bears are similar in size to the American back bear and grow up to six feet long, weighing, on average, 200 to 300 pounds. They have a shaggy, dusty appearance and have large canines for defense. About 20,000 or fewer sloth bears remain in the wild.<a href="https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1498&amp;context=hwi#:~:text=We%20interviewed%2051%20victims%20that,human%20mortalities%20(13.7%25)%20reported.">A study from HNG University</a>, Gujarat, said sloth bears are "known for their aggressive and unpredictable behavior." Attacks are increasing as human activity increasingly impinges on the bears' home territories and 13.7% of sloth bear attacks result in death, said the study.Conservation biologist Neha Sinha <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sloth-bear-attack-kills-couple-india-forest/">told CBS News</a> that conflicts between bears and humans at this time of year are often caused by the Mahua tree flowering. Bears go to feed on the flower whilst humans harvest them to sell, and the bears can become territorial. A <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-07974-y#Sec3">study</a> published in March found that in India, Sloth bear attacks are most common in the Madhya Pradesh region.

Couple mauled to death by rabid sloth bear after visiting temple in Indian forest

A committee of five officials, including members of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and WWF India, has been formed under the chairmanship of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) to probe the death of two dolphins in the Narora area in Bulandshahr. The death of two dolphins in five days has evoked concern among experts about the protection of this highly endangered fresh water species in the Upper Gangetic Basin. The <keyword id="523868" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chief-conservator">chief conservator</keyword> (forest) of west zone, N.K. Jaanu said, "I have directed the <keyword id="6394250" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="panel">panel</keyword> to submit its report in two days and make arrangements for a proper postmortem of the dolphins." A dolphin was found dead in the lower Ganga canal near Ramghat bridge on Tuesday and, earlier, on October 9, another dolphin was found dead near <keyword id="10112689" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="narora-village">Narora village</keyword>. The total population of dolphins in the Upper Gangetic Basin (176-km stretch of the Ganga between Bijnore and Narora barrages) is 41, as per the latest joint survey by WWF India and the forest department. Uttar Pradesh chief wildlife warden Sunil Pandey said that a committee of senior officials would be set up to investigate the frequent deaths of dolphins. Pandey said forest officials and staff needed to be more vigilant to protect these highly endangered species, which had been included in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Act. <keyword id="1405111" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sandeep-Behera">Sandeep Behera</keyword>, consultant at the National Ganga Clean Mission (NGMC) said, "We must put an effective check on the frequent deaths of dolphins." He said the stretch of the Ganga between Narora and Garhmukteshwar was declared a Ramsar site (wetland site of international importance) because of these dolphins and the community's participation in their conservation. He regretted that officials could not develop a management plan for the site in the past 15 years. Important sites are called Ramsar sites because of the <keyword id="4626188" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ramsar-convention">Ramsar Convention</keyword>, an intergovernmental environmental treaty established in 1971 by UNESCO, which came into force in 1975. A senior forest official said, "Prima facie, illegal fishing in the river seems to be the reason for the deaths of these two dolphins." As dolphins are mammals, they need to come out of the water every three to four minutes to breathe. Blind by birth, they differentiate between light and dark by using sonar rays. They detect and escape obstacles inside the water through the rebound rays. However, fishermen use nylon nets and the sonar rays pass through these. As a result, there is no rebound and the dolphins are unable to detect the nets, getting entangled in them and then die of suffocation. <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/indian-air-force-to-induct-more-rafale-fighter-jets-team-heads-to-france-for-preparations/articleshow/78680312.cms">Indian Air Force to induct more Rafale fighter jets — team heads to France for preparations</a>

Panel to investigate death of two dolphins in UP's Bulandshahr

<ul><li>There will be a total lockdown in Bihar from July 16-31 to contain the spread of COVID-19. </li><li>Essential services allowed. </li><li>Commercial, private and govt establishments to remain closed. </li><li>Check the full guidelines for lockdown in Bihar. </li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/">Visit Business Insider for the latest news and updates.</a> </li></ul>There will be a total lockdown in Bihar from July 16-31 to contain the spread of COVID-19, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday announced. Modi said the 15-day lockdown will remain in force at all municipal, district, sub divisional and block headquarters level. What’s allowed? <ul><li>Essential services allowed.</li><li>Farming and construction-related activities allowed.</li><li>Hospitals and all related medical establishments will continue to remain functional. The transportation for all medical personnel nurses, Para-medical staff, other hospital support services are permitted. This provision will also apply to veterinary services and establishments also.</li></ul>What’s closed but is functional in certain cases? <ul><li>Offices of the Government of India, its Autonomous Subordinate Offices and Public Corporation shall remain closed</li></ul>Exceptions: Defence, central armed police forces, treasury. public utilities (including petroleum, CNG, LPG, PNG) disaster management. power generation and transmission units, post offices. National informatics Centre. Early warning agencies <ul><li>Offices of the State Government, its Autonomous Bodies, Corporation, etc. stall remain closed.</li></ul>Exceptions: a) Police, Home Guards, Civil Defense, Fire and Emergency services, Disaster Management, Elections and Prisons. b) District administration and Treasury along with IT services’ Video Conferencing support from BELTRON. C) Electricity, water supply, sanitation, Health, Food and Civil Supplies, Water Resources, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry. d) Municipal bodies e) Forest officer Staff and workers required to operate and maintain 200, nurseries, parks. plantation, firefighting in forests, wildlife rescue including handling human-wildlife conflicts, watering plantations, Patrolling and protection of sanctuaries including tiger reserves, operation of pollution monitoring stations and the corresponding field and headquarter offices. f) Offices of Social Welfare – Staff and workers required (i) to operate and maintain child care institutions under Juvenile Justice Act, old age homes, homes for women, destitute and persons with disability (ii) to pay food security allowances under National Security Act {iii} to pay: social security pensions and the corresponding field and headquarter offices. <ul><li>Commercial and private establishments shall be closed down.</li></ul>Exceptions: a) Shops, including ration shops (under PDS), dealing with food, groceries, fruits and vegetable, dairy and milk booth, meat and fish, animal fodder, agriculture inputs. However, authorities are encouraged to facilitate home delivery. b)Banks, insurance offices and ATM which include all bank related subsidiaries offices like Cash management, IT services etc. c) Print and electronic media. d) Telecommunications, internet services, broadcasting and cable services e) E-commerce (All kinds of goods) f) Petrol pumps, LPG and gas retail and storage outlets. g) Hospitality services including Hotels/Motels/Lodged, Restaurants, Dhabas and eateries will be allowed to open with delivery/take away services only. <ul><li>All transport services will be suspended.</li></ul>Exceptions: a) Railways, Air and Rail transport will remain functional. b) Taxies, auto-rickshaws will be permitted across Bihar c) Private vehicles will be allowed across Bihar for permitted activities only d) All essential service providers will be allowed to commute from home to workplace. What’s completely closed? <ul><li>Places of worship to remain closed.</li><li>Commercial, private and govt establishments to remain closed.</li></ul> SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/google-may-put-4-billion-into-indias-reliance-jio-months-after-facebook-invested-5-7-billion/articleshow/76957941.cms">Google may put $4 billion into India's Reliance Jio, months after Facebook invested $5.7 billion</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/mukesh-ambani-next-goal-seems-to-be-the-retail-king-of-india/articleshow/76953716.cms">Mukesh Ambani’s next goal seems to be the ‘retail king of India’</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/news/mukesh-ambani-is-now-richer-than-elon-musk-and-google-founders-larry-page-and-sergey-brin/articleshow/76955217.cms">Mukesh Ambani’s $72 billion fortune makes him richer than Elon Musk and Google’s Larry Page and Sergey Brin</a>

Lockdown again in Bihar from July 16: What’s allowed and What’s not during lockdown

New Delhi, Apr 7 () Security forces deployed in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region have been alerted against violent attacks after inputs suggested that large groups of Maoists have started "regrouping" in the area to take advantage of the ongoing lockdown aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus, officials said on Tuesday.A senior official looking after anti-Naxal operations in the state, worst-hit in terms of violent Maoist activities, said armed cadres of the ultras have been reported to be undertaking meetings in south Bastar districts of Jagdalpur, Dantewada and Sukma."The concern of Naxal attacks on security forces and others in south Chhattisgarh have increased after multiple inputs received by the agencies suggest that a large group has entered into the area from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and even Nepal.""While the CPI (Maoist) have called for unilateral ceasefire in Odisha, no such call has been made in the Chhattisgarh area," the official said.Some booby traps have been recovered by security forces in Bijapur district of the Bastar region in the last few days and hence security forces like the CRPF and state police have been asked to be on alert against Naxal attacks, a second official posted in Chhattisgarh told .Inputs have been received that "taking advantage of the lockdown period and less number of operations by security forces, Maoists have conducted intensive reconnaissance in the Rajpenta and Chimilipenta areas and have also planted improvised explosive devices (IEDs)" in these areas of Dantewada and Sukma districts respectively.The first official said security forces have also been informed about some meetings being held by senior Naxal commanders asking locals to protest against the administration for fixing a minimum price for plucking of the 'Tendu leaves' from the forests.On Monday night, the officer based in Chhattisgarh said, the Kerlapal area committee of Maoists blasted an IED and damaged a culvert near Renga Para on Dornapal-Jagargunda road in Sukma district.Some new Central Reserve Police Force camps, opened deep inside along the Abujhmaad forest area, have also been alerted against possible Naxal ambushes and attacks, the official said.Armed Naxal cadres belonging to the Malangir area committee in Chhattisgarh had also damaged the Aranpur-Potali road at ten places and rendered it unsuitable for plying of vehicles, he said.The forces as well as civilians use this road and keeping in mind these activities, the security forces units in this area have also been asked to remain vigilant especially after sunset, the official added.The forces, the first official said, have been asked to undertake only "intelligence inputs based" operations in the next few days and strictly adhere to the standard operating procedures to minimise risks.The tactical counter offensive campaign (TCOC), a period in summers when Maoists undertake mega operations to increase their base and hit security forces, has also likely begun in the Bastar area with the assembly of large number of cadres over the last few weeks, he said.About 30 CRPF and CoBRA battalions (about 30,000 personnel) apart from armed police units of the state have been deployed for anti-Naxal operations in the Bastar area that shares border with multiple states.A purported audio tape has been released in Telugu a few days back and a man who identifies himself as the secretary of the outfit's Malkangiri-Koraput-Visakha Divisional Committee (MKVDC) has said they will not attack any government official or security forces personnel if they are providing help to villagers and tribals in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. NES TDSTDS

COVID-19: Security forces deployed in Chhattisgarh alerted against Naxal grouping, attacks

<ul><li>As many as 25 of the state’s 33 districts are affected by the floods. </li><li>The situation might get worse as heavy rainfall is predicted in the next few hours. </li><li>The water level of major rivers like the Brahmaputra, Dikhow, Dhansiri, Jia Bharali, Puthimari and Beki is above the danger mark.</li></ul>Over 11 people died and a million have lost their homes as monsoon floods ravaged the state of <keyword id="6354915" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="assam">Assam</keyword>. The situation might get worse as heavy rainfall is predicted in the next few hours. As many as 25 of the state’s 33 districts are affected by the floods. The water level of major rivers like the Brahmaputra, Dikhow, Dhansiri, Jia Bharali, Puthimari and Beki is above the danger mark. The neighbouring country of Nepal is worse-hit as many as 65 people have died, said the local police<a href="https://twitter.com/NepalPoliceHQ/status/1150586124210806784"> said in a tweet</a>. Though heavy rains and monsoon floods are common in Assam, this year it is much heavier than expected, local authorities said. As much as 80% of the area is flooded every year during the season. <div type="image" title="14094790f54f7365eda9bf7eece0625b (1)" msid="70225898" hostid="261"></div>

IANS National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been evacuating people from low-lying areas and shifting them to shelters. As of now, the government rescued 750 people from Assam and Bihar in the last three to four days. The flood waters from the Brahmaputra have also entered some parts of the Kaziranga National Park, forcing the animals to migrate in search of higher ground. "The flood waters have entered the park but the situation is under control. We are monitoring the situation closely and will implement the time card system for restricting the speed limit of vehicles on NH-27 as and when necessary," said Kaziranga Divisional Forest Officer, Rohini Ballav Saikia told IANS. A total of 13,276 hectares of agricultural land has been affected by the floods, officials said.

Assam monsoon floods wreak havoc on the state, kill 11 and displace a million

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e140e49855cc21da01f37f3-1240/4867688.jpg" alt="German tank France Battle of the Bulge" />Courtesy photoA German Panther tank from the 25th Panzer Division crosses a checkpoint near Wissembourg, France, about 37 miles north of Strasbourg, during the opening phase of the German offensive known as Operation Nordwind in World War II, January 6, 1945.<ul class="summary-list"><li>US soldiers from the 42nd Infantry Division were hurried to France in the final days of 1944, expecting to head to a quiet sector.</li><li>But they began 1945 in a furious fight with German troops during Hitler's last major offensive in Western Europe.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>Troy, New York - In the earliest days of 1945, the infantrymen of the 42nd Infantry Division, now a part of the New York Army National Guard, spent their first days in desperate combat against German tanks and paratroopers during Hitler's final offensive in Western Europe.Operation Nordwind, sometimes called "the other Battle of the Bulge" kicked off on New Year's Eve 1944 in the Alsace region of France. The American and French armies fought desperately to halt the attack and hold onto the city of Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace.Three regiments of 42nd Infantry Division soldiers, who had been hurried to France without the rest of their divisional support units, had arrived in Strasbourg, France just before Christmas 1944. They expected to spend time in a quiet sector to learn the ropes of combat.They could not have been more wrong.The 42nd Infantry Division had been made up of National Guard troops during World War I and nicknamed "the Rainbow Division" because it contained elements from 26 states.In World War II the division was reactivated but filled with draftee soldiers. With a desperate need for infantry troops in Europe, the soldiers of the 222nd, 232nd, and 242nd Infantry Regiments had been pulled out of training in the United States and shipped to southern France.The three regiments were named Task Force Linden, because they were commanded by the division's deputy commander Brig. Gen. Henning Linden. They were committed to battle without the artillery, armor, engineers and logistics support the rest of the division would normally provide.<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e140e3b855cc2278d157e65-1400/ap4412190250.jpg" alt="US Army tank Strasbourg France" />AP PhotoUS tanks rolling through the almost deserted streets of Strasbourg, France, December 19, 1944.The attack came as a shock to the newly arrived infantrymen, explained Capt. William Corson in a letter to a 42nd Division reunion gathering in 1995. Corson commanded Company A in the 1st Battalion, 242nd Infantry."The green, inexperienced troops would occupy a small town named Hatten since the Germans had nothing more than small patrols in the area. At least that was the information given at a briefing, but someone forgot to tell the enemy," he wrote.German paratroops and panzer forces with tanks and self-propelled guns crossed the Rhine River 12 miles north of Strasbourg and clashed with the thinly stretched Rainbow Division infantry at Gambsheim on January 5.For the next three weeks, the three regiments defended, retreated, counterattacked and finally stopped the Germans.The first week of was a frenzied effort to halt the German advance, with companies and battalions moved around the front like firefighters plugging gaps, Corson said. The fighting was so desperate that the 42nd Division even threw individual rifle companies into the fight whenever they became available."Officers knew little more than the GI," Corson said. "One morning my company moved to a barren, frozen hillside with orders to dig defensive positions covering an area about three times larger than we were capable of adequately defending. After four hours of chipping away at the frozen ground, we were told that this position would not be defended, so we moved to another frozen spot about ten miles away and started digging again."At Gambsheim the odds were too great for the American infantry. The majority of its defenders from the 232nd Infantry Regiment were captured or killed.In a failed January 5-7 counterattack at Gambsheim, units from all three regiments were combined in a patchwork force that was ultimately repulsed.Dan Bearse, a rifleman with the 242nd Infantry in the counterattack, recounted the events in an oral history."They had tanks and heavy artillery, endless infantry troops," Bearse recalled. "We were outnumbered two or three to one. So we were quickly repulsed. Lost lots of people, killed, wounded and captured. And we were thrown back immediately," he said of the January 6 battle. "We were badly mauled and it was very demoralizing. That was our baptism of fire. And it was a loser."At Hatten, on January 10, 1945, the 242nd Infantry Regiment and a battalion from the 79th Division tried to stop the German tanks and paratroopers again. The defenders were overrun.Capt. Corson was wounded and captured with dozens of his Soldiers.But one soldier from the 242nd Infantry, Master Sgt. Vito Bertoldo decided to stay. Bertoldo, who was attached from Corson's Company A to the battalion headquarters, volunteered to hold off the Germans while other soldiers retreated.Bertoldo drove back repeated German attacks for 48 hours. He was exposed to enemy machine gun, small arms and even tank fire.<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e140e3a855cc21da01f37f2-840/4867689.jpg" alt="Army soldiers Battle of the Bulge" />Courtesy photoUS Army soldiers of the 42nd Infantry Division's Task Force Linden prepare a defensive position at their log and dirt bunker near Kauffenheim, France, January 8, 1945.Moving among buildings in Hatten to fire his machine gun, at one point Bertoldo strapped it to a table for stability. He fired on approaching German tanks and panzer grenadiers, repeatedly defeating the German attacks and killing 40 of the enemy. For his actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor."On the close approach of enemy soldiers, he left the protection of the building he defended and set up his gun in the street," his Medal of Honor citation states, "There to remain for almost 12 hours driving back attacks while in full view of his adversaries and completely exposed to 88-millimeter, machine gun and small arms fire.""All I did was try to protect some other American soldiers from being killed," Bertoldo would tell newspapers back home after the war. "At no time did I have in mind that I was trying to win something."The 1st Battalion, 242nd Infantry paid a heavy price for its defense of Hatten. At the beginning of the battle there were 33 officers and 748 enlisted men in the battalion. Three days later there were 11 officers and 253 enlisted men reporting for duty.The Germans launched their final assault just seven miles from the fight at Hatten on January 24, looking to cut American supply lines back to Strasbourg in the town of Haguenau.They attacked straight into the 42nd Division.Troops of the 222nd Infantry were dug in inside the nearby Ohlugen Forest, with thick foliage and dense fog concealing both American and German positions.The regiment had two battalions in the defense, covering a frontage of 7,500 yards, three times the normal frontage for a regiment in defense, according to the "42nd "Rainbow" Infantry Division Combat History of WWII."Facing the Americans were elements of a German tank division, a paratroop division and an infantry division.During the fighting, 1st Lt. Carlyle Woelfer, commanding Company K in the 3rd Battalion, 222nd Infantry, captured a German officer with maps detailing the German attack. The officer and another prisoner were put on an M8 Greyhound armored car for transport to the rear. But the German officer signaled for other Germans to come to their aid.Three Germans moved on the vehicle, killing one American Soldier, but were then killed in turn by Woelfer.The back and forth fighting continued through the rest of the night as the 222nd fought to contain the German breakthrough towards Haguenau. The regiment earned a Presidential Unit Citation for its actions.The 232nd Regiment was brought up from reserve to help in the defense. The defense had held as reinforcements from the divisions which had been fighting in the Battle of the Bulge arrived to push the Germans back.By mid-February 1945 the rest of the 42nd Infantry Division arrived in France and the infantry regiments were rebuilt. The division then went on the attack against German units that had been severely ground down by the Nordwind attack.For the Rainbow Division, their attack would lead into Germany and capture the cities of Wurzburg, Schweinfurt, Furth, Nuremberg, Dachau and Munich before the war ended in May of 1945. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bizarre-and-startling-facts-about-wwii-2016-10">Startling facts about World War II</a></h3> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/xnFFLSMk-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;"></iframe>

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