Attachments
SITUATION UPDATE AND RESPONSE
• Tripura has been hit hard by severe flooding following unprecedented rainfall over the past 72 hours. On 21st August 2024, the state experienced heavy downpours, with West Tripura receiving 182 mm, Khowai 157.60 mm, and Gomati 153.10 mm of rain. This intense weather event has led to 23 fatalities, 2 injuries, and 1 person reported missing. The floods have impacted approximately 17 lakh people across 8 districts, forcing over 77,625 individuals into 557 relief camps set up by district administrations. For more details: SEOC Sitrep_23-08-2024
• The infrastructure has been extensively damaged, with roads, bridges, and essential services such as electricity and water supply suffering severe disruptions. Housing has also been heavily affected: around 1,396 houses have been partially damaged, 184 houses completely destroyed, and 368 houses severely impacted, leaving many families homeless and in urgent need of shelter. The situation is especially dire in South Tripura, Gomati, and Unakoti districts.
• The heavy rainfall has triggered landslides in over 2,032 locations across the state, creating significant road blockades and complicating relief efforts. Although restoration work is ongoing, road erosion has occurred at 1,952 locations, with repairs completed at 579 sites. The power infrastructure has also been significantly affected, with 844 broken poles, 151 malfunctioning transformers, and 310 kilometers of conductors destroyed. Two substations are out of operation, further exacerbating the challenges faced by the affected communities.
• Agricultural damage is substantial, with approximately 5,000 hectares of vegetables and 1.20 lakh hectares of paddy fields completely submerged. Telecommunications have been disrupted, particularly in Gomati, South Tripura, and other flood-affected areas. The Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, has directed all telecom service providers to activate intra-circle roaming facilities in Tripura, effective from 27th August 2024, to help restore communication.
• Connectivity issues have also arisen, with bus services from Nagerjala bus depot, Radhanagar bus terminus, and Chandrapur Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) temporarily suspended. Train services from Agartala have been halted, and the Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) has canceled eight local trains connecting Agartala to Udaipur in Gomati district and Sabroom in South Tripura district due to landslides and flash floods. Additionally, all schools, colleges, and Tripura’s lone state-run university, Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) University, have been closed until further notice.