Six killed, around 3000 families displaced in Tripura floods

Mudslips and waterlogging disrupt life, families take shelter in makeshift camps

A waterlogged street in Agartala following flash floods, on May 21, 2018

Flash floods marooned at least 3,000 families in Tripura, where incessant rain triggered mudslides that have killed six people, including three of a family, in the past four days. Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb declared financial assistance for the victims’ families. Shelter has been provided in 36 makeshift camps.

People wade through waterlogged streets in Agartala.

 

Above danger level

Several localities in Agartala are submerged, while water was flowing above the danger level in three rivers.

The District Magistrate of West Tripura district, Sandip Mahate, said, “Due to incessant rains last night in Sadar and Jirania sub-division and in several wards of Agartala Municipal Corporation, the water of Haora River is flowing at 10.3 m which is .3 m above the danger level.”

“The affected people along the river banks have been shifted to flood relief camps...The administration has arranged for ample food supply and drinking water,” he added.

In places, the water levels were dangerously high

 

Officials said the flood situation remains grim owing to torrential rains in the hills in north Tripura, the source of all major rivers of the State.

Low-lying areas are the worst affected, requiring evacuation of people.

A portion of the Assam-Agartala National Highway has also flooded, disrupting normal traffic. Schools have been declared closed in several places.

Rescue boats had to be used to ferry people

 

Tripura Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath inspected some flood-affected areas. “Due to a sudden downpour in the hilly areas, the Balda Khal, Chandrapur and adjoining areas are flooded as the water level in rivers have increased, due to which, the water is unable to pass to Bangladesh,” he told reporters.

“I have instructed the authorities to provide all support to people marooned in flood water,” he said.

District officials on Monday said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire services, defence personnel and volunteers are jointly working to help affected people.

The regional office of the Meteorological Department has issued a warning with the prediction of more rainfall in the next 24 hours.

(With inputs from Agencies)