Agartala, July 13: Continuous monsoon rains have thrown normal life out of gear across parts of Tripura, prompting the authorities to issue an Orange Alert for West Tripura and Sepahijala districts, close schools in the two districts, and step up flood preparedness as several low-lying areas experienced waterlogging.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the southwest monsoon has become active once again over the state due to the influence of a cyclonic circulation over neighbouring Bangladesh. The weather office has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across Tripura over the next three days.
Dr. Partha Roy, Head of the Meteorological Centre in Agartala, said West Tripura recorded the highest rainfall of 138 mm during the past 24 hours, followed by 116 mm in Sepahijala district. Although rainfall intensity is likely to reduce slightly between July 14 and 16, heavy showers are expected to continue in parts of West Tripura, Sepahijala, Khowai, Gomati and South Tripura districts, where a Yellow Alert has been issued.
The past four days of incessant rainfall have caused widespread waterlogging, particularly in Mohanpur subdivision of West Tripura. District Magistrate Dr. Vishal Kumar said vulnerable families have been shifted to safer locations and relief operations have already begun.
In Agartala, several low-lying areas, including Orient Chowmuhani, Radhanagar Bus Stand and B.K. Chowmuhani, remained submerged for several hours due to poor drainage. Civic authorities later cleared the accumulated water using high-capacity pumps, suction machines and JCB equipment. Officials are also identifying weak points in the city’s drainage network to improve flood management in the future.
Authorities said water levels in the Howrah and Kata Khal rivers have risen but remain below the danger mark. However, vulnerable locations such as Baramura Hills, Srilankabasti, Pratapgarh and Bordowali are under constant surveillance. A damaged stretch of the Kata Khal embankment near Pragati School has been repaired, while the movement of heavy and goods vehicles over the Howrah and Kata Khal embankments has been restricted as a precaution.
As a safety measure, the School Education Department suspended classes on Monday in all government, government-aided and private schools in West Tripura and Sepahijala districts.
Although weather conditions improved later in the day, the administration cautioned that heavy rainfall could resume during the night. Residents have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel through waterlogged areas, remain vigilant, and strictly follow official advisories, while all emergency agencies remain on standby to respond to any deterioration in the flood situation.
