As the low pressure and cyclonic circulation in North Bangladesh, which caused  incessant heavy rains since Monday created havoc and  heavy rainfall lashed major parts of Tripura since past 48 hours, worsening the flood situation in several places of the state on Wednesday with the death toll rising to 13, still missing one and over 32, 750 people took shelter in 331 relief camps in all the eight districts, officials said adding that incessant heavy rains since Monday created havoc in the state.

Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha seeking deployment of additional National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in Tripura over phone talked with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and apprised him about the prevailing flood situation in the state.

“Home Minister assured me of all possible support during this crisis. I am grateful to him for providing all possible support to us at this hour,” Dr said on the X.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Due to impact of the cyclonic circulation, Tripura has received Maximum rainfall recorded in the districts from the morning of the August 21st  at 08:30 AM to the morning of the 21st August at 05:30 PM, in which the West Tripura district -received 589.8 mm rainfall,  Khowai district – 157.60 mm and Gomati district- 153.10 mm in past 12 hours.

Director of IMD’s Agartala station, Dr Partha Roy said that in Tripura during past few years, Tripura has witnessed impact of many cyclones, but this is the first time in last few years , the state has received maximum rainfall in last 24-hours under the influence of cyclonic circulation.

Disaster Management Department officials said that at least nine people including three members of a family, were killed and two persons were injured in separate incidents of landslides and drowning following incessant rains in Tripura during the past 48 hours.

According to the officials, the 13 deaths, including a 12-year-old girl, were reported from South Tripura, Gomati and Khowai districts.

An official said that three members of a family including a woman and a child died at Debipur in South Tripura district when their house collapsed due to a massive landslide late on Monday night. Villagers recovered the three bodies on Tuesday morning. The deceased were identified as Trisankar Chakma (50), his wife Rajini Chakma (41) and their daughter Mita Chakma (12).

Sources said that four more deaths due to landslides and flood related incidents has also reported and deceased persons were identified Miloni Debbarma of Mainama village under Dhalai district, Hritik Debbarma of Bishramganj, Shanti Debbarma of Jirania and Sanjib Bhil of PR Bari police station of Ranjanagar under South Tripura district.

Official sources said that over 32, 750 people belonging to over 6,620 families so far took shelter in 331 camps in eight districts while over 1,055 houses were damaged either fully or partially and hundreds of trees uprooted. And above 1900 landslide incident has also taken place during the past 48-hours.

Water resource department officials said that most of the prominent Rivers in Tripura are either flowing above critical or danger levels while the state’s main river Gomati has crossed the 'extreme danger level' in many places of West Tripura, Gomati and Sepahijala districts, as rainfall has continued.

A large number of human habitations, urban and rural areas and many important highways have been inundated due to the floods while crops and other important assets were damaged in huge areas in all the eight districts.

Official sources said that there is substantial damage to properties, uprooting of trees, electric pillars and transmission lines and blockade of roads in few places.

Sources said that government agencies have already started evacuating people from flood affected and low-lying areas to the safe shelters and started distribution of relief items.

Sources in the Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Sadar office said hundreds of families of from Chandpur, Trinath, Baldakhal ,Chandrapur, Aralia and Pratapgarh areas of Agartala were forced to take shelter in the afternoon of Monday and after the situation turned worsening since Tuesday afternoon due to heavy rainfall and flood for hike of water level in river Howrah, many families were again taken shelter in relief camps.

Several families in adjoining areas of river Howrah were evacuated by the administration and volunteers from flooded area of Pratapgarh, Aralia, Jogendranagar, Kathashewla, Chandrapur, Baldakhal areas of the eastern part of the city since Monday midnight , who were sheltered in relief camps including some makeshift camps.

Administrative authorities including local leaders visited the affected areas and monitored the rescue operations. Rescue operation teams have been camping in the affected areas since Tuesday afternoon and a large number of TSR and NDRF jawans were deployed in the affected areas.

There are reports of damages to crops and destruction of electric lines and tele-communication lines due to flooding as all the low-lying areas near river Howrah were flooded with river water . The administrative authorities of West Tripura district administration also visited the affected areas and declared immediate relief of affected people. The sub divisional administration has also started supply of relief materials to affected families including baby foods.

Vehicular movement was also hampered in some portions of National Highway-8 adjoining the river Howrah and normal life was severely affected in different parts of eastern Agartala.

However, Meteorological Department officials in Agartala said that the situation is likely not to improve  till August 25th and IMD issued warnings including red, orange and yellow with prediction of light to moderate rain, thundershower in many places over districts of Tripura.

An India Meteorological Department (IMD) statement said that heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely to continue over Tripura for next five days.

“The low pressure area over north Bangladesh and neighbourhood persisted over the same region on Wednesday. The associated cyclonic circulation extends upto 9.6 km above mean sea level. It is likely to move nearly westwards across West Bengal during the next 48-hours,” the statement said.

It may be recalled here that after the heavy rain with thunderstorms and lightning struck the entire state since Monday morning, the capital city of Agartala submerged into flood water and all low-lying areas of the city totally submerged into rain water disturbing normal life across the city since Monday and again on Tuesday morning. Now, the situation in major parts of the Agartala city remained normal, but all low lying areas near the river Howrah have submerged into flood water and hundreds of families were sheltered in relief camps.

The flood water pumps in inundated areas start immediately to extract flood water, alert NDRF and all disaster response forces including SDRF, TSR to press into action and some teams with all equipment including boats are also now pressed into rescue operations in adjoining areas to river Howrah.

According to the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC), the state administration and AMC have landed many boats on the city roads to help the people on Monday night.

Meanwhile, at present (Tuesday night) the water in the Howrah River is flowing above the danger level and all low-lying areas near the river have already submerged into flood water.

An NFR spokesman said that due to heavy rains railway tracks were damaged in Gomati district, forcing the railway authority to cancel these trains.

A defence spokesman said that following the requisition from state administrations, four columns of Assam Rifles were deployed in different districts and they are working in close coordination with civil administration to rescue civilians stranded due to floods.

First aid and essential items have been distributed by the Assam Rifles troops to hundreds of stranded people and in relief camps.