Flood claims 6 lives, one commits suicide, causes severe damaged in Tripura

Agartala, Aug 17 :  Death toll rose to six in Tripura due to flash flood last week with the recovery of two more bodies yesterday from River Howrah, police said here today. According to report, flood situation is now under control but everyday there is heavy showers in the upstream and hills that caused inundation of low-lying areas and disrupted recession of flood water in downstream. Police said the body of 22 years old Paresh Sarkar, who was drowned in the flood water of River Howrah three days ago, has been recovered by NDRF jawans yesterday after water level reduced in the stretch. Paresh Sarkar (22), a resident of Bridhinagar village of Khayerpur was drowned in the flood water when he tried to catch fishes in the flood water on last week. On the other, police personnel engaged with the rescue operation was also recovered another dead body, identified as Bhadramani Debbarma (55) from river Gomati of south Tripura who was drowned in the flood water in last week. Earlier, three teen-agers and housewife were died during flood at Agartala in last week. Police has been in search of one more person who was reportedly missing in southern part of Agartala during flood. But it was not yet confirmed whether he was drawn in the flood water or had gone missing. Another housewife Chinurani Pal (34) of Maharani village under Gomati district was allegedly committed suicide yesterday by jumping in the flood water. The body has not yet been found but the cause of suicide is not known. Police is interrogating the family members. The disaster management officials however, stated that except a few families, all 56,000 odd marooned people moved back to their houses and the administration has been making arrangement of their drinking water and health care. Meanwhile, the state cabinet directed revenue department officials to assess the damage caused by flash flood in three districts - West, Sepahijala and Khowai of Tripura. Besides, the district administrations were asked to undertake repair works for those families whose dwelling units were damaged by the flood. The Agartala Municipal Corporation has been asked to undertake clearing works of all the drains by using available modern desalting machines and ensure free flow of water from the channels, said urban development minister Manik Dey adding that it was appeared that inundation in Agartala was due to improper drainage. “The cabinet reviewed the situation arising out of the unprecedented flood in three districts which left over 10,000 families marooned,” said Finance Minister Bhanu Lal Saha. It appeared that the flash flood had caused extensive demerge to the dwelling units, roads and agricultural crops. “Now, the situation has improved but the flood left a trail of destruction in several places. Departments like Agriculture, Fisheries and PWD were asked to assess the demerge cause by the flood”, he said adding that the government will provide financial assistance after getting inputs from the departments. Besides, the Health department was also asked to take all possible steps to avoid water borne diseases which is a common phenomenon after the flood. UNI