Tripura flood: 67 relief camps still operational, death toll rises to 36

After 23 days of devastating flood across Tripura, till today about 3,873 people are still living in 67 relief camps across four districts of the state.

While giving latest updates on the flood situation in Tripura on Wednesday evening, the Revenue secretary Brijesh Pandey addressing a press conference at Civil Secretariat said that the death toll for the flood has now risen to 36 and one person is reported to be missing till today.  Out of these 36 deaths, 22 are due to landslides, 13 are due to drowning and 1 due to house collapse. The break up is 23 Males, 7 Female and 6 Children.

He said that due to extremely heavy and continuous rainfall during the period August 19-23; caused unprecedented floods in the State.

Chief Minister held a review meeting at the Civil Secretariat on Wednesday on the relief and restoration activities post flood in presence of Chief Secretary, PCCF and secretaries of various departments were present in the meeting.

Pandey said that the Chief Minister complimented for the exemplary work carried out by officials of all the departments and District Collectors in providing immediate relief and rescue measures. This was possible as the whole administration worked as ‘Team Tripura’.

The Chief Minister has directed to continue the restoration work with the same vigor, energy and speed as was shown in the relief and rescue operations during the floods. During the meeting no department expressed any shortage of funds. Instead, they were satisfied with the availability of funds for restoration works.

In the meeting, the Chief Minister directed all concerned officials to ensure quality food, health and hygiene in the relief camps, until people are able to return to their homes.

Ensure payment of ex-gratia to remaining families of death cases within this week and to expedite the compensation in cases of damaged houses, finalize the memorandum for final damage assessment within this week and send the same to the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Union government.

Pandey said that as on date, 67 relief camps are still operational in Districts, providing shelter to 3,873 persons. The District Administration is providing necessary relief, including food, drinking water and medical help etc. To prevent spreading of any water borne diseases, regular cleaning of toilets, bleaching, disinfectant spraying and hygienic environment is being done.

Pandey said that full payment has been made in 26 cases out of 36 death cases at Rs 4 lakh per case. In 7 cases partial payment has been made. Overall, Rs 104.85 lakh has been disbursed as ex-gratia. The full payment for remaining cases will be completed very soon.

Giving details of the devastated flood, Pandey said that a total 62,205 houses have been reported as damaged which includes 8,830 houses as fully damaged and 8,978 houses as severely damaged. Interim relief has been provided to the 10,483 houses for an amount of Rs11.92 crore.

All schools and colleges are now operational and attendance in schools has reached a normal level. Around 20,000 books have been distributed to students in different schools and mid-day-meal kitchens are running in all the schools.

He said that as per the announcement made by Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, free ration of 10 kg per ration card for two (2) months under Chief Minister’s Relief package will be arranged in next 10 days.

Out of 1,664 roads damaged, restoration works of 81 roads are completed, 187 roads are in progress, tender for 553 roads is in progress and 843 road estimates are being done. PWD is planning to complete major road restoration and repairs by October 5th, said Pandey.

He also informed the media that out of 1,136 damaged lift irrigation schemes, 140 schemes are restored, 426 works are in progress. It is planned that 972 schemes will be restored before the winter cropping season.

The Health department has conducted 2,632 camps and treated 1,10,289 persons in flood affected areas. There is no outbreak of any water borne diseases or skin diseases in the state so far and sufficient quantities of medicines are available.

Highlighting the power situation, Pandey said that the Power department has restored power to all sub-divisions and divisions. Amarpur, Santirbazar, Sabroom and Udaipur have 95-98% of restoration, which shall be completed to 100% in this week and the drinking water facility from piped water was functional in about 98% of the households..

It may be recalled here that the Chief Minister had announced in the Assembly about a financial package of Rs.564 crore for taking up immediate relief and restoration activities by various departments. Chief Minister on August  27th, departments had requested for release of some funds for immediate relief and restoration activities. Subsequently, Departmental Secretaries, while making a presentation before the Cabinet on 30th August, 2024, requested for immediate financial resources for taking restoration activities. Accordingly, as per the request of each department, the financial package was formulated in consultation with respective departments. The Finance Department was also consulted and after getting their consent, the financial package was finalized.