Amidst India Meteorological Department (IMD) warnings for heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rainfall and squally, gusty winds over Tripura during May 28 to May 31st, 2025 and subsequent, state government’s advisories to all district magistrates, heavy rain wreaks havoc across Tripura on Thursday under the influence of deep depression over Northwest Bay of Bengal.

As incessant Monsoon rainfall struck Tripura since Wednesday evening and flood like situation arises in  low-lying areas and areas adjacent to many rivers and disturbed normal life.

Incessant rain across Agartala caused by deep depression in Bay of Bengal, affected normal life since Wednesday evening  and on Thursday evening, the heavy rainfall all the low-lying areas of Agartala have been partially submerged with rain water and traffic movements hit road-blocks during the past few hours.

Since May 28, Monsoon rain hit Tripura with moderate winds and incessant rain, but since Thursday morning the incessant rain across Agartala severely affected the normal life and major parts of the city including its low-lying suburb areas have also submerged with rain water.

Reports from other parts of the state said, the Monsoon with incessant rains also disturbed the normal life.

While, the IMD through its national bulletin said that the deep depression over Northwest Bay of Bengal off West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts moved nearly northwards with a speed of 22 kmph during past 6 hours and crossed West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts between Sagar Island & Khepupara (Bangladesh) close to Raidighi(West Bengal) during 1030-1130 hrs IST and lay centred at 1130 hours IST of today, the 29th May 2025 over West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts . It is very likely to move nearly north-northeastwards, maintain its intensity of deep depression till evening and weaken gradually into a depression thereafter.

IMD’s Agartala station in its current weather condition said that due to depression over north Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours and under its influence, heavy to Very Heavy rainfall with Isolated Extremely Heavy Rainfall and Squally/Gusty winds is very likely to occur over the districts of Tripura.

An advisory issued by Deputy Secretary C K Molsom of the Revenue department said, “The extreme weather and heavy rainfall may occur due to the low-pressure area created over the northwest Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast.”

The DMs were instructed to follow the IMD’s impact-based advisories and follow a set of measures, including regularly assessing the situation; alerting the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Tripura State Rifles (TSR), Fire and Emergency Services, trained volunteers, and Quick Response Teams (QRT); and identifying locations to deploy the personnel to immediately if needed.

The advisory also asked the DMs to ready equipment like boats, life-saving jackets and other flood rescue items; monitor water flow in rivers, embankments, and catchment areas; and take immediate preventive and preparedness measures; evacuate people from low-lying areas to the safe shelters; start rolling out relief if needed; make immediate damage assessment; and report to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) by 2 pm along with reports of action taken.

For the first day (May 29) of the “Red” warning period, the IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rain (7-20 cm) with isolated extremely heavy (20 cm) rainfall in West Tripura and Khowai districts, while heavy to very heavy rain (7-20 cm) is likely to occur at few places in rest of the districts, with thunderstorms with lighting and squally winds reaching 40-50 kmph, even gusting to 60 kmph, very likely at one or two places all over the state.

For the second day (May 30) with “Orange” warning, the IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rain (7-20 cm) in parts of North Tripura, Dhalai, Sepahijala, Gomati and South Tripura districts, while thunderstorms with lighting and squally winds reaching 40-50 kmph, even gusting to 60 kmph, are very likely at a few places all over the state. Heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) is also predicted in parts of other districts of the state.

For the third day (May 31) with “Yellow” warning, IMD has predicted heavy rainfall to occur in parts of the entire state, while thunderstorms and gusty winds reaching 30-40 kmph are very likely in parts of all the districts.

For the fourth day (June 1st) with “Yellow” warning, the IMD said that thunderstorms with lightning are very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Tripura.

While, for the fifth day (June 2nd) there are now advisory or warnings from IMD and only predicted for light to moderate rain with thunderstorms is very likely to occur at many places over the districts of Tripura.

It may be recalled here that devastating floods cost 38 lives last year, apart from affecting over 17 lakh people and causing damage worth Rs 15,000 crore, including in road connectivity, power transmission, flood management infrastructure, domestic households and public infrastructure, livestock, and agriculture.

Over two lakh people were shifted to 889 relief camps last year, with 11 out of the 12 rivers in the state flowing above the danger level.

Earlier, on May 26, the Southwest Monsoon had advanced into entire parts of Tripura along with other Northeastern states on the same day, which was 10 days before its normal date, which entered Kerala on May 24th. Last year the Southwest Monsoon advanced into entire parts of Tripura on May 30th, 2024.