As heavy rains triggered severe flooding in Tripura, at least 10 people have lost their lives, and over 34,100 have been displaced, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The state revenue department reported that the deaths were due to drowning and landslides, with two individuals sustaining injuries. The flooding, caused by the overflowing Gomati River, has devastated large swathes of the state, particularly in the capital city, Agartala, Hindustan Times reports.
According to the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), 6,620 families have taken refuge in 346 relief camps across eight districts.
In response to the disaster, the state government has declared Thursday and Friday as holidays for all educational institutions. Rescue operations are ongoing as rivers across the state continue to flow above critical levels.
There were concerns about the Dumboor dam in Gomati district after water exceeded the reservoir’s holding capacity of 94 meters. However, Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath reassured the public that no floodgates were intentionally opened.
“No gate of Gumti hydro-electric project has been opened. The reservoir’s capacity is to hold water up to 94 meters. Water will automatically escape through the gate when it crosses this mark. There is no reason to panic as the administration is fully aware of the situation,” Ratan said in a social media post.
Landslides and fallen trees have also blocked several national highways, further complicating rescue efforts. Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha visited the flood-affected areas on Wednesday, urging cooperation from the public and support from social organizations.
Due to the current situation, all educational institutions including government, government-aided, and private schools, colleges, and state-run universities, will remain closed until further notice. Manik Saha has announced that a formal notification will be issued soon.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his condolences to the victims' families and called for swift relief and rehabilitation measures. “Deeply concerned about the flood situation caused by heavy rainfall in Tripura where many people have lost their lives, and about 5,600 families have sought refuge in relief camps,” he said.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued orange alert for heavy rainfall in several states, including Tripura, Assam, and Kerala.
