Tripura Flood Situation Improves As Water Levels Recede

The flood situation in Tripura showed signs of improvement on Sunday as water levels receded in many areas. Despite this, approximately 1.17 lakh people remain sheltered in 525 relief camps across various districts, according to officials.

The state is grappling with its worst flood in over thirty years, which has claimed 31 lives, including women and children, and caused injuries from landslides and drowning across six of its eight districts: South Tripura, Gomati, West Tripura, Sepahijala, Unakoti, and Khowai. Two individuals are still missing.

Disaster Management officials have estimated the preliminary damage from the heavy rains and flooding to be around Rs 15,000 crore, with this figure expected to rise following further assessments. Initial reports indicate that around 20,300 houses have sustained partial or complete damage due to the flooding and landslides.

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Large areas, including croplands and residential areas, remain submerged. The floods have impacted over 17 lakh people across the state, which has experienced unprecedented rainfall and flooding since August 19.

The heavy rains have triggered landslides at 2,066 locations, damaging several key highways, including National Highway-8, a crucial route for Tripura. However, officials report that many highways are gradually reopening.

Disaster Management

Currently, five teams from the National and State Disaster Management, along with 500 Civil Defence and Apada Mitra volunteers, actively conduct relief and rescue operations. To date, they have distributed 27,000 food packets in the Gomati and South Tripura districts.

Most rivers in Tripura, including the Gomati, are now flowing below danger levels. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted ‘heavy to very heavy rainfall’ in isolated areas throughout Tripura until Monday. The IMD has issued a ‘Red Alert’ for South Tripura and an ‘Orange Alert’ for Dhalai and Gomati districts.

In response to the severe weather conditions, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has canceled several local trains. An NFR spokesperson explained that railway tracks in Gomati and South Tripura have been damaged due to the heavy rain, necessitating the train cancellations.