AGARTALA:
As the flood situation in Agartala city continued to worsen, the Tripura government set up 39 relief camps across the state in which more than 2000 people have been taking shelter since June 17.
Sadar sub-divisional magistrate Ashim Saha informed that the rescue operations started on Friday night when the water level started increasing in the low lying areas.
“We have set up 34 relief camps in which around 2,400 people have taken shelter. We have also extended basic amenities and asked the Chief Medical Officers to send a team of medical officials in all the relief camps,” he said.
He also said due to overflow of water in the Howrah River the localities near the river have flooded.
“River Howrah has already crossed the danger level. As per the water resource department data, the danger level of river Howrah stands at 10.5 and early morning readings said that it is already flowing at 10.85,” he said.
On June 18, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha along with other officials inspected the relief camps that had been set up in government schools in various parts of Agartala. He spoke to the people there, and assured them that the government will help them in every way.
“The water level is receding in some areas of the city but we have noticed a backflow of water in some parts of Agartala city. We have deployed boats to rescue people from residential areas who are stuck in the floods and I have directed the concerned officials to set more rescue teams in action if needed,” Saha said.
“I strongly feel long term plans are needed to be undertaken in order to reach a permanent solution to this perpetual crisis,” he added.
Among the flood hit areas, Baldakhal and South Chandrapur are worst affected in the Agartala, and thousands of people have been totally cut off from transport and other basic facilities.
Speaking to The Meghalayan, one of the flood victims said the flood water started accumulating in their residential area late on Friday night.
Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma, who is also power minister, visited the relief camps and assured the people of help. He also asked the power department officials to increase the manpower so that there are no disruptions to the power.