Safari & boating services discontinued as Nandankanan Zoo battles waterlogging

Bhubaneswar: Incessant rains since the last week have wreaked havoc at Nandankanan here forcing the authorities to discontinue safari and boating services at the zoological park. The heavy rain has choked the drainage system of the zoo and resulted in waterlogging of the animal park.

While tiger, deer, ostrich and bird enclosures have been submerged underwater, the increase in the water level of Kanjia lake has snapped communication to the Botanical garden, adjacent to the zoo.The artificial pond constructed for the hippopotamus has got flooded with water of the lake, informed zoo officials.

"The water level of Kanjia lake has gone up due to heavy rain since the last three-four days. The drain through which the surplus water of the lake outflows has been choked inundating the low lying areas of the zoo," informed Deputy Director of Nandankanan Zoo Jayant Kumar Das adding that despite waterlogging no animals inside the zoo have been affected.

Meanwhile, pumps have been installed to discharge rainwater from the flooded areas inside the zoo, particularly from the tiger enclosures.

The non-stop shower have also damaged the kuchcha routes inside the safari due to which all rides have been suspended for some days, reports added.

"Once the rain stops, we will start the repair work for the roads inside the safari and try to complete it by Tuesday or Wednesday. Until then, the safari ride has been stopped. The boating services have been stopped too due to rise in water level in the lake," added Das.

"Safari and many animal enclosures have been closed down due to rains. It is disappointing for tourists like me who travelled from such long distances," said a tourist from Assam, Sangita Goswami.

As per reports as many as 7,000 to 8,000 tourists dropped in at the Nandankanan Zoo despite the inclement weather. However, the numbers are less as compared to regular days, stated the Deputy Director.

Another tourist who came from Guwahati, Assam said, "I had come here especially for the tiger safari but it has been stopped."