Jorhat, Aug 24: A severe storm in Jorhat on early Sunday killed at least 62 Asian Openbill storks and injured 68 others, devastating a long-established nesting colony along DCB Road in Jorhat town. The storm uprooted and damaged several trees, leaving dozens of birds dead or injured.

Following the incident, the Forest Department rescued the injured birds and collected the carcasses from the area before taking them to the Jorhat Regional Forest Office. “The injured birds will be shifted to Panbari for treatment and subsequently released in Kaziranga National Park after they rec over,” the ranger of the Jorhat Regional Forest Office said.

The ranger said most of the birds that died were chicks. He also said more than 10 Asian Openbills had died at the same location during the previous week.

The trees lining the road had for years served as a habitat for a large number of Asian Openbills, whose presence had become a familiar sight for residents and commuters. A local resident said more than 200 birds had reportedly fallen onto the road during the storm, with many subsequently dying.

“The news has left us deeply saddened. The authorities took away both the dead and injured birds,” the resident said.

The deaths have left the local community distressed, with the birds having become a familiar presence along DCB Road. While the Forest Department has begun efforts to rescue and rehabilitate the injured birds, the incident has also highlighted concerns over the vulnerability of the nesting site to extreme weather and the need for its protection.