At least 22 people have died in India’s Tripura state due to devastating floods as of Thursday evening, including seven victims of landslides. The floods have left at least 65,000 people homeless, who have sought refuge in approximately 450 relief camps. The situation is expected to worsen as heavy rainfall is forecasted for the next 24 hours in the region.
Government sources reveal that 5% of the state’s population (around 1.7 million people) have been directly or indirectly affected by the floods. Of the state’s eight districts, six are currently experiencing rivers overflowing beyond danger levels. Authorities have issued an emergency ‘red alert’ for all districts.
The meteorological department in the state capital, Agartala, has warned of heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours. Various districts in Tripura are expected to experience isolated or heavy rainfall, ranging between 7 to 20 centimeters. The southern parts of the state, including Gomati, Sepahijala, and parts of Dhalai districts, could face intense rainfall exceeding 21 centimeters. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are also likely in some areas.
Heavy rain over the last 24 hours has already exacerbated the situation. A report issued late Thursday night by the state’s Relief, Rehabilitation, and Disaster Management Department mentioned, “Tripura witnessed its heaviest rainfall in the past 24 hours, particularly in South Tripura (Bagafa: 493.6 mm), Sepahijala (Sonamura: 293.4 mm), West Tripura (Agartala: 233 mm), and Gomati (155 mm).”
The torrential rain has inundated the entire state. Districts such as Gomati, South Tripura, Unakoti, and West Tripura have been particularly hard hit by the floods.
Among the flood-related casualties, seven people have died in landslides. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha reported that seven members of three families lost their lives in separate landslides in the Shantirbazar subdivision. The Chief Minister announced compensation of ₹400,000 for each affected family. Over 2,000 landslides have been reported across the state, with many roads washed away by floodwaters.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army has been deployed for rescue operations. Helicopters are stationed across the state to provide emergency assistance and rescue those in life-threatening situations.
In a related development, there has been growing controversy surrounding allegations that water from dam gates opened in Tripura is causing flooding in Bangladesh. However, an official from the Indian government refuted these claims, stating, “No gates have been opened.”
The source further explained that the design of any dam includes internal safety mechanisms, ensuring that water does not flow over the dam’s surface and cause structural damage. Water is automatically and safely released through designated spillways to prevent overflows.
According to the official, when comparing the amount of water released from the reservoir to the total rainfall, the released water is insignificant. The rainfall recorded in the past few days has been unprecedented. All relevant information will be shared with Bangladesh by August 22 at noon.