In Assam, flood situation has improved with water level of Brahmaputra river and its tributaries receding following cessation of rain. 35 lakh people in 19 districts have been affected by the deluge. Over 3000 villages have been hit in latest wave of flood. Marooned people who had taken shelter on highways and highlands are preparing to leave for their homes. The affected districts include Barpeta, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Goalpara, Jorhat, Kamrup rural and metro, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sibsagar, Sonitpur, Tinsukia, Dhubri, Baksa and Udalguri.The situation is worst in world heritage site of Kaziranga National Park with more than 17 highly endangered one-horned rhinos killed this year, ten of them in the third wave of flood.Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has announced formation of an Animal Defence Force by involoving the people of the surrounding areas of the park to protect the animals and the forest.