10 dead, over 34,000 displaced in Tripura in state’s ‘worst-ever flood situation in last 3 decades’

Speaking to indianexpres.com, an official of the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) informed that while reports are still being collected from the ground, 1,056 houses have been damaged across the state, including 82 fully damaged, 311 severely damaged and 663 partly damaged dwellings.

The reasons behind the deaths have been attributed to drowning and landslides, resulting from excessive rainfall and the flood situation. There are no reports of people going missing as of now, said the SEOC official.

Power services have been shut down in many areas where excessive flooding has been reported to avoid accidents, an official of the state power department said.

The camps across the state

As of now, 336 relief camps have been opened across different districts of the state. Khowai, West Tripura, Gomati and South Tripura districts are the worst hit in the state, an SEOC official said.

The 34,100 people given shelters belong to 6,620 families and are currently sheltered in 346 relief camps in Dharmanagar of North Tripura district, Kailashahar, Kumarghat of Unakoti district, Kamalpur, Longtraivalley and Gandatwisa of Dhalai district, Bishalgarh and Sonamura of Sepahijala district, Teliamura and Khowai of Khowai district, Udaipur, Karbook and Amarpur of Gomati district, Sabroom, Belonia, Santirbazaar of South Tripura district and different areas under the Sadar and Jirania sub-divisions in West Tripura district, including in parts of the capital Agartala city. Large swathes of land have been inundated due to excessive rainfall and flooding in the city.

Rivers in spate

As per report from the state disaster management authority, all rivers of the state except the Kathakhal canal in Agartala, are flowing above the critical, danger, warning, expected flood and above bed levels in different locations.

River Manu in Kailashahar of Dhalai district was found flowing above the expected flood level and above the extreme danger level at different locations on Wednesday evening.

The Deo river at Kumarghat was flowing above the warning level while Bijoy river was flowing above the bed level at Bishalgarh. The Kakri and Juri rivers in Dhamanagar of North Tripura were found flowing above the danger level; Feni on which the Indo-Bangla Maitri Setu was built a few years back to boost bilateral connectivity, was found flowing above the critical level at Sabroom in the South Tripura district.

Rivers Muhuri and Lawgang in Santirbazaar and Jolaibari of South Tripura were found flowing above the danger level; the Khowai river in Khowai district, which has sustained heavy damages due to the prevailing flood situation, has crossed the critical level at 5 pm on Wednesday evening.

Rivers Gomati in Udaipur of Gomati district and Howrah of Agartala were both found flowing above the critical and danger levels, respectively.

Meanwhile, the state government has appealed to everyone to move to safety, avoid low-lying, flood-prone and vulnerable areas and stay wary of rumour mongering.

Government directive against rumours

Amidst rampant rumour mongering of flood gates being opened at the Dumboor dam and Gumti hydroelectric power project site in Gomati district, Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath said no flood gates have been opened. Instead, he said excess water from the hydro-electric power project reservoir escaped through the spillway automatically after crossing a certain mark as per its design.

“No gate of the Gumti hydro-electric project was opened. The reservoir’s capacity to hold water is up to 94 metre (height). When the water crosses this mark, it will automatically escape through the gate. When the water level comes down from 94 metre in the reservoir, the gates will automatically close. Water has been escaping through the gate like this. Water is escaping at 509 per cent rate through one of the gates. There is no reason to be unnecessarily alarmed due to this. The administration is aware of the entire situation. Requesting people in the concerned area to be alert,” Nath wrote in a post on his social media page.

As per latest reports, the water level of the Gomati river, which passes through different parts of the Gomati and Sepahijala districts, have crossed the ‘extreme danger level’ as rainfall continues.

In a social media post, Saha said, “Urgent Notice: The water level of the Gomati River has crossed the extreme danger level. The administration is working tirelessly to evacuate affected individuals to safe zones. I urge all those who may be affected by the flooding to please cooperate with the authorities and move to the shelter houses immediately. Your safety is our top priority”.

CM’s call for safety of affected people, effort for maximum compensation

On Wednesday, waterlogging was also seen in parts of Agartala city although emergency evacuation pumps drained out water from different areas, including Indira Gandhi Memorial (IGM) Hospital Chowmuhani, Math Chowmuhani, Shakuntala Road etc.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha himself was seen travelling in a rescue boat from his residence to his office on Wednesday morning, as a large area around Ganaraj Chowmuhani, close to his Agartala residence, was submerged under water.

The chief minister also visited some of the flood-affected areas of Tripura and said such heavy rainfall was never recorded in the state. He added that while the natural calamity has put up hurdles, the government is doing everything possible to make sure people are evacuated to safety, all necessary support is provided to them, and they get maximum compensation.

Soon after his return from New Delhi Tuesday evening, the Chief Minister had chaired a review meeting with officials to assess the flood situation throughout the state. He had also instructed the officials to ensure timely support and relief to the affected people. After the meeting, Saha had said all district administrative officials, NDRF, SDRF and local authorities are on high alert.

“We also urge all the social organizations, the NGOs and beloved citizens to remain vigilant and provide their all-out support during this crisis. Your every iota of contribution can make a significant difference to the response and relief efforts,” he said.

Total shutdown of schools and cancellation of exam

Saha on Wednesday declared a total shutdown of all schools for two days — August 21 and 22. Meanwhile, colleges across the state remained shut on Wednesday.

Even Tripura University decided to suspend all regular classes on Wednesday due to the heavy rainfall, the university’s registrar in-charge Prof Chinmoy Roy informed.

“All students, teachers, and staff are requested to stay safe and follow the instructions,” Saha wrote on his social media account.

Meanwhile, Saha visited the Integrated Command Control System (ICCS) at the IT Bhawan to oversee the efforts of the various government agencies to help those affected by the incessant rain and subsequent flooding.

The Directorate of Medical Education postponed the counselling session for admission to GNM and ANM courses due to the heavy rainfall and the subsequent flooding. The fresh counselling dates have been fixed on August 27 and 28.

“The counselling (centrally) of GNM M/F and ANM (F) candidates for admission in GNM (M/F) and ANM (F) courses for the session 2024-25 academic year is postponed due to heavy rain fall and current flood situation in Tripura,” reads a notification served by the director of Medical Education department.

Political reactions

Several political leaders and elected public representatives were seen visiting different areas and taking stock of the situation. BJP leaders, including chief whip Kalyani Roy, MLA and Agartala Mayor Dipak Majumder, were seen visiting flood-affected areas in their respective constituencies.

CPIM MLA Nayan Sarkar visited the flood-affected areas at Bamutia in West Tripura district. “Situation is very critical. Such a flood was not seen in 30-35 years. Many houses in Bamutia bazaar were flooded. So far, people who are involved in farming have been the most affected.”

Congress central working committee member Sudip Roy Barman took to social media and wrote, “Tripura is facing a massive rainfall for the last three days which resulted in downpours all over the state. Various places in my constituency have been badly affected due to the downpours. I’ve visited all affected areas and tried to extend my helping hands towards the people of my constituency.”

Meanwhile, different roads were temporarily blocked in the capital city, including that from the CM’s residence to the Women’s College area, Durga Chowmuhani, Radhanagar to Circuit House, RMS to Bidurkarta area, Old Motor Stand, East and West side of Paradise Chowmuhani, Power House Chowmuhani and others.

In Dhalai, the police have restricted movements of people and vehicles along the embankments and adjoining low lying areas of the river stream in the district. Only the Rapid Response Team, flood monitoring and rescue operation teams of the government agencies, NGOs, civil defence and AapadaMitra volunteers are being allowed to move. The police have also issued strict directions under the Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and said action will be taken against those violating the directions.