Indian Army, through its extensive Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations code-named ‘Op JAL RAHAT,’ has successfully rescued over 330 civilians affected by severe flooding in Tripura. Two columns from the 18 Assam Rifles, under the command of HQ 21 Sector Assam Rifles and IGAR (East), have been actively deployed in the flood-stricken regions.
Tripura Floods
Why In News
- Indian Army, through its extensive Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations code-named ‘Op JAL RAHAT,’ has successfully rescued over 330 civilians affected by severe flooding in Tripura. Two columns from the 18 Assam Rifles, under the command of HQ 21 Sector Assam Rifles and IGAR (East), have been actively deployed in the flood-stricken regions of Amarpur, Bhampur, Bishalgarh, and Ramnagar. Additionally, medical assistance has been provided to seven civilians facing urgent health issues.
Operation ‘JAL RAHAT’ In Full Swing
- Indian Army launched Operation ‘JAL RAHAT’ in response to devastating floods in Tripura, with two columns from the 18 Assam Rifles taking charge. These units have been deployed across the hardest-hit areas of Amarpur, Bhampur, Bishalgarh, and Ramnagar, where they have carried out extensive rescue operations.
- Under challenging conditions, the Army has managed to rescue more than 330 civilians trapped in floodwaters. The operation highlights the Army’s commitment to providing swift and effective relief during natural disasters.
- Chief Minister Manik Saha previously reported that at least 10 people were buried under rubble after landslides struck Ashwani Tripura Para and Debipur in Santirbazar.
- “The state government has announced ₹4 lakh in financial assistance for each victim’s family,” Saha said.
- Earlier, Brijesh Pandey, Secretary of the Revenue Department, confirmed that 12 people had lost their lives amid heavy rainfall in the northeastern state.
- “So far, 12 people have lost their lives, and two persons are missing. Preliminary reports suggest extensive damage to physical infrastructure and agricultural crops, along with damage to houses and livestock. The actual figures will be known after a field assessment is conducted,” Pandey was quoted by PTI.
- He also stated that nearly 17 lakh people in the state have been affected by the ongoing situation. Pandey mentioned that landslides had been reported in as many as 2,032 places. Out of these, 1,789 have been cleared, with restoration work ongoing in other locations as well.
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Agartala recorded 233 mm of rainfall.
- All eight districts of the state recorded some of the highest rainfall levels, with Bogafa in South Tripura district, under the Santirbazar sub-division, recording 493.6 mm of rainfall.
- A ‘Red Alert’ remains in place for the state, as the weather office has predicted ‘heavy’ to ‘very heavy’ rainfall.
- Earlier in the day, Manik Saha noted that the Gomati river in the state was flowing at 22.30 metres, above the extreme danger level of 22 metres.
- “We have moved all the families on the banks of the Gomati river in Amarpur, Udaipur, Sonamura, and surrounding villages,” he said, while urging everyone to remain alert until the water level in the river returns to normal.
Tripura Floods
- Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath took to X to assert that no gate of the Gumti hydro-electric project had been opened.
- “The reservoir’s capacity to hold water is up to 94 metres (height). When the water crosses this mark, it will automatically escape through the gate. When the water level comes down from 94 metre in the reservoir, the gates will automatically close.
- Water has been escaping through the gate like this. Water is escaping at 509 per cent rate through one of the gates. There is no reason to be unnecessarily alarmed due to this. The administration is aware of the entire situation. Requesting people in the concerned area to be alert.”
- Commissioned in 1974, the Gumti hydel project with an installed capacity of 15 MW is located in the South Tripura district. raging waters have submerged the fields of Tripura’s paddy and jute farmers, most of whom are small agriculturists.
- The state’s farm sector is yet to recover from the damage caused by Cyclone Remal in May and another round of floods a month later. Tripura government had then announced a financial assistance scheme for agriculturists.
- But as with early warning systems or urban infrastructure, governments will need to find ways to shield the fields from the ravages of floods. These tasks cannot be postponed for long.
