Floods hit South Tripura, Gomati districts amid heavy rainfall for 48 hours

The official added that the flood situation has pushed the administration to open relief camps for the affected people. “As many as 22 relief camps have been opened in South Tripura district, providing shelter to 861 individuals from 271 families. As of now, 18 relief camps are still operational with 609 members of 199 families. In Gomati district, two relief camps have been opened, where 15 families consisting of 52 members have been sheltered,” the report said.

Later, an SEOC official in the evening said 575 people of 132 families are living in seven relief camps across the two districts and the figures are expected to further reduce on Sunday as the situation is now stabilising.

The local administrations have been providing necessary facilities, including food, drinking water, medical etc, at the relief camps.

An official of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) informed that apart from the flood situation, the heavy rainfall has also triggered landslides in some areas.

“The landslides have been cleared by Quick Response Teams (QRTs). Additionally, road blockades due to fallen trees have been cleared by the QRTs,” the official said.

Water level at rivers

As per latest information, the present water level the Muhuri river at Jolaibari Station (South Tripura district) is at 23.50 metre, which is below the expected flood level and the water level of Muhuri at the Bankar area, which is some distance away, is at 14.70 metre, which is under the danger level of 15.00 metre.

The current water level of the Feni river at Sabroom Bazar Ghat in South Tripura is at 17.6 metre, which is flowing right below the critical level of 17.8 metre.

Water level of the Lawgang river has also risen but is still flowing below the danger level. Water level of the Gomati river in the adjoining Gomati district is at 10.88 metre, which is below the warning level of 11.5 metre.

Overall, the Muhuri river had crossed the “expected flood level” at Bankar area, Feni river at Sabroom, and Manu river at Longtraivalley area at different times of Saturday.

Considering the gravity of the flood situation, the South Tripura District Magistrate ordered a National Disaster Response Force team to be pre-positioned at the district headquarters. The team would be deployed, if required, an official from the local administration said.

What IMD has predicted

According to the Meteorological Department, South Tripura and Gomati district received heavy rainfall over the last 24 hours. Belonia of South Tripura district received the highest rainfall among all sub-divisions with 118.5 mm of rainfall while Bagafa and Sabroom received heavy showers in the district.

In Gomati district, Udaipur, Amarpur and Kakraban witnessed heavy showers in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the weather office has predicted light to moderate rainfall and thundershowers in most places of these two districts over the next 24 hours.

While the officials of the meteorological department have predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning in most districts of the state, heavy rainfall has been predicted in isolated places of South Tripura.

No financial assistance has been provided to the affected families till Saturday. Officials from the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said necessary assistance will be extended to the affected families as per SDRF norms after damage assessment.

CMO monitoring situation

The Tripura Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) on Friday said Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha is closely monitoring the present situation in the South Tripura district, adding that the administration is prepared to deal with any eventuality.

The CM also took to social media and wrote that he had sought reports from the revenue secretary and the IMD departments.

He also appealed to the people to refrain from panic and said the administration is closely monitoring the overall situation and is prepared to deal with any eventuality.