Tripura: Flash floods caused by incessant rains render thousands homeless, disaster relief services deployed

Incessant rains have caused flash floods in areas adjoining river Howrah in Tripura has rendered hundreds of families homeless. The rains in past 48 hours have pushed the water-level in the river 0.3 metre above danger level.

"Due to incessant rain during last night areas in Sadar and Jirania sub-division and several wards of Agartala Municipal Corporation. The water of Howrah river is flowing at 10.3 meter which is .3 meter above danger level," DM West Tripura district Sandip Mahate said on Sunday.

The heavy downpour was reported in the state’s hilly areas over the past 24 hours triggering flood in the downstream areas including the capital town and its adjacent areas.

More than 5,000 people along with the belongings and domestic animals have taken refuge in temporary camps in various schools and government establishments in and around capital Agartala since the Sunday afternoon as the water level of river Howrah went above the danger level under the influences of Norwester thunderstorm in hilly areas of Tripura.

The administration has arranged for food supply and drinking water beside medical emergency are being referred to hospital.

Apart from local authorities NDRF, TSR and Civil Defence services have been pressed into the matter to ensure the safety of the people.

An alert has also been sounded by the Sadar sub-division administration as the river Howrah touched the danger mark.

Purnima Datta a flood victim said, "Since morning there is no rain but all of a sudden the water level has gone up. We are in great problem and do not know what we should do. We left essential commodities and document in our house but not sure if shall find them in proper condition. Not seen such flood earlier. The Minister has assured all help and lets' wait and see."

Aged people along with children and domestic animals have taken shelter in the camps.

Meantime, another flood victim Milan Biswas said, "I have come here with one-and-a-half month child as water has entered our house and everything is under water. We were rescued in the boat and during the night there was rain. This child is my grandchild and a one-and-a-half-month-old."

In-charge Chief Minister Ratan Lal Nath along with the authorities of the administration visited some flood-affected areas meet the flood victims to know their whereabouts.

Nath said, "Due to heavy rain in the hilly areas all of a sudden the Balda Khal, Chandrapur and the adjoining areas are flooded as the water level in the river has increased and water is unable to pass to Bangladesh. In such a condition the water level has increased but now little less. In the meantime, several families had to be evacuated and the administration had already reached even before I came here. The SDM Sadar, DM West Tripura and officials from the SDM Jirania have a look into the people's problems and local people have also rendered help. Arrangements for boats have been made though we were not ready for this situation which is a natural hazard and the administration stood by the people."

The water-level in major rivers – Gomati, Deo, Manu and Howrah was swelling with every passing hour posing flood threat throughout the state.

The regional office of MET department has issued a warning with the prediction of more rainfall in the next 24 hours and already the district administrations have been alerted to keep a close eye on the situation.

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