By TC News Desk
Agartala, 30th August 2024: The flood situation in Tripura has seen significant improvement, allowing schools, colleges, and Anganwadi Centres to reopen. Many of those who had sought shelter in relief camps are now returning home.
The Relief, Rehabilitation & Disaster Management Department reported that for the first time in two weeks, water levels in the Gomati River at Sonamura, Sepahijala District, have receded below the flood mark.
The latest report confirms that 32 lives have been lost during the disaster, with 19 deaths caused by landslides, 12 by drowning, and one from the collapse of a house. Two individuals were reported injured, while one person remains missing.
Currently, 329 relief camps are operating across the state, sheltering 17,939 people. In the past 24 hours, 34,967 people have left the relief camps to return to their homes. District administrations continue to provide essential relief, including food, drinking water, and medical care. Measures to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases, such as cleaning of toilets, bleaching, and disinfectant spraying, are ongoing to maintain hygiene.
A central team led by B.C. Joshi, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, is conducting damage assessments in Sepahijala and Khowai districts. The District Disaster Management Authorities, led by respective DMs and Collectors, are assisting in this on-the-ground evaluation.
Additionally, two more waterlogged Anganwadi Centres have reopened, offering Take-Home Ration services. Currently, only eight Anganwadi Centres remain closed due to waterlogging, while 9,278 are operational, with 936 still functioning under the take-home ration system.
Nineteen more schools have resumed classes, bringing the total number of open schools to 4,590 out of 4,734 across the state. The remaining 144 schools—located in Dhalai, Sepahijala, Gomati, and South Tripura districts—are yet to reopen. Colleges have also resumed operations with steady attendance, expected to rise further after the ongoing semester exams conclude.