Incessant heavy rains over the past few days have flooded several areas in the Dharmanagar subdivision of North Tripura district. With the rising water level in local rivers, there is a fear of a devastating flood in the Kurti area on the Tripura-Assam border.
Due to continuous rainfall from Monday morning to Wednesday afternoon, a vast area of the Maniknagar locality in Ward No. 1 of Kurti Gram Panchayat has been submerged in water. Water from Mizoram enters the Kurti area through the Langai and Singla rivers, which flow into Assam.
A total of 10 streams and 3 rivers have submerged the Maniknagar area. In particular, the Kurti, Thal, and Koyla rivers have flooded a vast area.
Currently, water has entered some houses, and the roads and courtyards of many houses are also submerged, trapping the local people.
Social workers are distributing food items including rice, lentils, mustard oil, potatoes, chira, and jaggery to the trapped people.
Local residents said, water from Mizoram and Assam is flowing in at a high speed and the water level is rising. Therefore, there is a fear of a devastating flood in the Maniknagar area.
The trapped people said the Kurti Jaladhar Bill is the largest reservoir in the state and every year the reservoir overflows during the monsoon season resulting in flood situation in the Manik Nagar area. Even as it is a long-standing issue, neither the previous Left Front Government nor the incumbent BJP-led Government has any initiative been taken to solve this problem, alleged the local people.
Currently, the people of the area are spending sleepless nights due to the rise in the water level. They are preparing to take shelter in a safe place with their children, belongings, and livestock.
Some families have taken shelter in the local sub-centre after water flooded their houses. The people of the Manik Nagar area have demanded strong measures to save them from the flood.