Agartala, August 23:
Torrential overnight rain triggered flooding in several low-lying areas of Agartala and adjoining parts of West Tripura on Sunday, as rapidly rising water levels in the Howrah river and other water channels inundated homes and disrupted normal life.
Authorities launched a large-scale rescue and relief operation, with SDRF personnel, police, Tripura State Rifles (TSR), Civil Defence teams, Aapda Mitra volunteers and others using boats to evacuate residents from affected areas.
Baldakhal, Sri Lankabasti, Aralia, Katakhal, Khayerpur, Chandrapur along the national highway and parts of Pratapgarh were among the areas affected. Khayerpur and Debtabari were reported to be particularly badly hit, followed by Mariamnagar, while floodwater also spread towards Kalinagar and Bidyutnagar.
Former Tripura Assembly Speaker and local MLA Ratan Chakraborty said the administration had made advance preparations as the area is prone to flooding and responded promptly after water levels began rising.
“The SDM and crisis-management teams have been engaged in rescue operations since morning using boats. Critically ill patients and small children have been rescued from the affected areas. People from the interior areas are also being evacuated,” Chakraborty said.
He said arrangements had also been made for food and other essential supplies, while the immediate priority was to prevent any loss of life.
Chakraborty said the administration and local teams were maintaining round-the-clock surveillance and hoped the situation would improve if water levels did not rise further.
Jirania Sub-Divisional Magistrate Animesh Dhar said the Chandrapur-Balghar Road entrance was among the worst-affected locations, where a sudden rise in water following heavy overnight rainfall forced residents to move out with their belongings.
“Due to the heavy rain and increased water in the river, floodwater entered several houses and people started moving out with their belongings, children and elderly family members,” Dhar said.
Four shelter houses have been opened in Jirania at Amulya Biyebari, Ranirbazar School, Jirania School and Mandai School. Arrangements have been made for food, drinking water and milk for children. Five boats have been deployed at the affected location, with another kept on standby.
Police, TSR, SDRF, Civil Defence, Aapda Mitra and scout volunteers have been mobilised for the rescue operation. Dhar said people were moving in and out of the shelters but there had been no need for permanent evacuation so far.
“We are fully prepared,” he said, adding that no casualty had been reported and expressing hope that water levels would recede if there was no further rainfall.
West Tripura district administration officials, along with personnel from the Agartala Municipal Corporation, Block Development Offices and other departments, inspected affected areas and supervised rescue and relief operations.
Five to six relief camps have been opened in different affected locations. Officials said no deaths or major damage had been reported so far, while a comprehensive assessment would be carried out after floodwater recedes.
The flooding has affected areas under both Sadar and Jirania subdivisions, including Old Agnigarbha, Kartatala, Khayerpur, Ranirbazar, Jirania and Champaknagar.
The weather forecast, however, remains a concern. According to the India Meteorological Department’s Agartala centre bulletin issued at 7.30 pm on August 22, light to moderate rain or thundershowers were expected at several places in Tripura, with isolated heavy rainfall of 7-11 cm possible at one or two locations. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning were also forecast.
The IMD has forecast rain and thundershowers at several places between August 23 and 29, with thunderstorm and lightning warnings in force from August 23 to 26. It has cautioned that heavy rain could cause waterlogging in low-lying areas, temporary disruption of urban services and interruption or diversion of traffic on important roads.
Reportedly water levels rose rapidly from early morning after the overnight downpour, with floodwater entering courtyards and homes in several locations. Officials said river and stream levels were currently stable but warned that renewed heavy rain in upstream areas could alter the situation.
Rescue and relief operations are being maintained until the water recedes, officials said.
