Agartala: Torrential rains over the past 48 hours have led to severe flooding across Tripura, resulting in the tragic deaths of seven people, with two others reported missing.
As the floodwaters rise, more than 5,600 residents have been forced to seek refuge in relief camps throughout the state.
Brijesh Pandey, Secretary of the Revenue Department, held a press conference on Tuesday to address the ongoing crisis.
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He stated that relentless rainfall over the last two days has caused the water levels in Tripura’s rivers to surge, submerging many areas. Some of the hardest-hit regions include Bagafa (375.8 mm), Belonia (324.4 mm) in South Tripura, and Amarpur (307.1 mm) in Gomati district, all of which received heavy downpours in the past 24 hours.
“South Tripura and Gomati districts have been particularly devastated,” Pandey said, noting that four major rivers—Howrah, Dhalai, Muhuri, and Khowai—were flowing dangerously above their flood thresholds as of 4:00 PM.
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Chief Minister Manik Saha, currently in New Delhi, has been receiving regular updates on the situation and is scheduled to hold a review meeting later this evening upon his return.
Pandey added that the state has opened 183 relief camps to accommodate the displaced, with 24 camps in West Tripura, 68 in Gomati, 30 in South Tripura, and 39 in Khowai. The remaining camps are spread across the state’s other districts.
“The district administrations are ensuring that those sheltered in relief camps receive essential supplies such as food, clean drinking water, and medical aid,” Pandey stated. The situation is being closely monitored by district magistrates and senior officials at the state level.
Relief and rescue operations are ongoing, with SDM teams working alongside officers from various departments including Rural Development, Water Resources, Power, Public Works, Forest, Police, and Fire Services. Extreme rainfall has triggered landslides in multiple locations, resulting in road blockages due to fallen trees. These obstacles are being cleared promptly, while assessments of damage to homes and livestock are underway.
Pandey confirmed that the seven reported fatalities occurred due to landslides and drowning incidents, with one victim in Khowai, five in South Tripura, and one in Gomati. Two individuals remain missing—one each from Gomati and Khowai districts.
More than 200 teams, including personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), civil defense volunteers, and various local departments, have been deployed to conduct rescue operations and provide necessary relief.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall across Tripura for the next two days, with a red alert issued for South Tripura and an orange alert for the rest of the state.