Tripura is grappling with severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall, resulting in the loss of five lives and displacement of hundreds of families. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has downgraded the heavy rainfall warning to an orange alert after issuing a red alert on August 21. The state government has announced a two-day closure of schools after widespread inundation, including the capital Agartala.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed to assist in rescue efforts after Chief Minister Manik Saha requested help from Union Home Minister Amit Shah. NDRF personnel have been evacuating residents from flood-affected areas, such as Baldakhal village, and taking them to safe locations. The Belonia region in South Tripura district has also suffered significant damage due to the floods.
Chief Minister Saha has been actively monitoring the situation, visiting flood-affected areas and shelter houses. He assured the public that medical officers would visit relief camps to conduct health check-ups and provide healthcare services. He also emphasized that all district administration officials, NDRF, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local authorities are on high alert.
Authorities have established 13 relief camps to accommodate residents from severely affected areas, particularly Meghar Ambari and Ram Kishorepur. The Gomati River breached the danger mark on Wednesday, leading to two deaths in these regions. On Tuesday, a landslide triggered by continuous rain in Devipur ADC village claimed three lives and injured one.
A team led by CPIM Belonia divisional secretary Comrade Tapas Dutta visited flood-hit sites to assess the situation. The team included MLA Ashok Mitra, CPIM district committee member Babul Debnath, and labour leader Jaydev Bhowmik.
The severity of the floods is evident in the accounts of local residents. Vishnu Muhuri, a Tripura resident, expressed that he had never witnessed such catastrophic conditions in over 40 years. In Amjad City alone, over 300 families have been displaced due to the heavy rainfall. With relief operations in progress, many residents are being relocated to relief camps.
The authorities are working tirelessly to provide aid and support to the affected communities in Tripura. The situation remains critical, and the state government continues to monitor the situation closely.
