India, July 31 -- Six endangered wild water buffaloes were found dead in the Kohora range of Assam's Kaziranga National Park on Wednesday evening, with authorities suspecting lightning as the cause.

Forest patrol staff discovered the carcasses of four female and two male buffaloes in shallow waters during a routine patrol near the Mona Tongi camp in the Mona Beel area, park director Sonali Ghosh said.

A special inquiry committee has been formed to investigate the matter thoroughly. "The unusual clustering and physical condition of the carcasses suggest a high probability of death due to a lightning strike," Ghosh said.

A team of veterinarians, forest officers, and wildlife researchers reached the site on Thursday morning to conduct pos...