Agartala, Aug 21, 2024, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala, Aug 21: Tripura has been witnessing extreme flood following unprecedented rainfall over the past 72 hours.

According to the latest report, 10 people have lost their lives and a total of 45,793 people from 11,259 families have been rendered homeless and sheltered in 435 relief camps across the state in the past 72 hours.

Due to very heavy and continuous rainfall over the past 72 hours (19/08/2024 to 21/08/2024), water level of rivers in Tripura has inflated significantly leading to flooding in various places.

Unprecedented rainfall occurred on 21.08.2024 in West Tripura District (182 nun), Khowai District (157.60 nun) and Gomati District (153.10 nun) in the past 24 hours. 
As a result, whole state has been affected with floods very badly, particularly South Tripura, Gomati and Unakoti districts. 

The water level of rivers in Dhalai, Khowai, South Tripura, West Tripura, North Tripura and Unakoti Districts has been recorded above the danger mark.

The state machinery is working very hard in close coordination with various departments to mitigate impact of this natural calamity.

The District Administrations have been providing necessary facilities, including food, drinking water, medical help etc. in relief camps. 

Officers from various departments like Rural Development, Water Resources, Power, PWD (Roads & Buildings), Forest, Police, Fire Service & Paramilitary Forces have been working round the clock for last three days to mitigate the impact of floods and provide relief and rescue operations to affected families. 

The heavy and extreme rainfall has triggered landslides in over 1900 places across the State since August 19 causing extensive road blockades and damages. Roads are being cleared on regular basis. 

Preliminary reports suggest damages to houses, livestock, infrastructures and agriculture crops. The field assessment for the same has started and will be completed soon.

Till date, 10 persons have already lost lives and one person is reportedly still missing, the report said.

More than 250 Quick Response Teams of SDRF (State Disaster Response Force), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Civil Defense Volunteers, Aapda Mitra Volunteers, Fire and Emergency Services, Forest, Power, Public Works Department, Agriculture and other line departments are deployed in the field and are carrying out relief and rescue operations including restoration as per the local needs and flood situation. 

Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha has spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and briefed about the flood situation and requested to send additional NDRF teams immediately to the state. 

One team of NDRF is reaching Unakoti District (Kailashahar) by today evening and four teams are being airlifted and are likely to be arriving in the state tonight. 

The IMD has issued fresh rain alert for Tripura for the next two days.

As per the IMD, heavy to very heavy rainfall (7-20 cm) is very likely to occur at one or two places over West and Sepahijala districts; a red alert for the two districts and orange alert for the other districts have been sounded on Thursday.

Besides, on Friday, heavy rainfall (7-11cm) is very likely to occur at one or two places over South and Sepahijala districts (orange alert) and for other districts, yellow alert has been sounded.

The people in vulnerable areas have been asked to adhere to the advice of administration and shift to shelter houses, wherever required.

Meanwhile, Tripura CM Dr. Manik Saha on his social media handle shared a heart-touching picture of a cart puller rescuing a dog from water-logged street in Agartala.

He wrote, "Floods can't dampen compassion! This cart puller's selfless act of rescuing a dog from the water-logged streets of Agartala is a heartwarming reminder of humanity's strength and resilience. Kudos to this unsung hero for showing us that even in the toughest times, kindness and empathy can prevail!"