The Tripura State government has announced a two-day holiday for all educational institutions across the state, effective August 21 and 22. The decision was made due to severe weather conditions, including heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides. This closure encompasses government, government-aided, and privately managed schools, as well as institutions under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) and madrasas. The Education (School) Department highlighted the prioritization of student safety amidst the current weather challenges.
Meanwhile, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has actively sought assistance from the central government. He appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the deployment of additional National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams to support relief efforts. The CM expressed gratitude for the Home Minister’s commitment to providing necessary support during this crisis.
Saha also highlighted the proactive efforts of district administrations, NDRF, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local authorities in providing assistance to those affected by the floods. He urged social organizations, NGOs, and all citizens to remain vigilant and offer their support during this challenging period.
The challenging weather conditions in Tripura have resulted in landslides in several regions, leading to the obstruction of numerous roads, including national highways. The intense rainfall has caused trees to topple, further impeding transportation.
In the past 24 hours, Bagafa and Belonia in South Tripura districts recorded rainfall of 375.8 mm and 324.4 mm respectively, while Amarpur in Gomati district received 307.14 mm. Parts of Khowai district also experienced significant rainfall.
On Tuesday, a landslide triggered by continuous rainfall in Devipur ADC village, Tripura, tragically resulted in the deaths of three family members: Trisankar Chakma, his wife Ranj Chakma, and their 12-year-old daughter, Mita Chakma. One individual sustained injuries in the incident.
As of recent reports, 183 relief camps have been established across the state, providing shelter to 5,607 families. These camps include 24 in the West district, 30 in South Tripura district, and 39 in the Khowai district.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected to persist over Tripura for the next two days. The continuous rainfall has been attributed to a low-pressure area over central Bangladesh and its surrounding regions. The associated cyclonic circulation, extending up to 7.6 km above sea level, is projected to move north-northwest across West Bengal within the next 48 hours.
