Kalbaishakhi storms hit Tripura’s Amarpur, Udaipur, and Kakraban, damaging homes and power lines. Meteorological warnings predict heavy rain and winds. Read more on Tripura’s recovery efforts.
Agartala April 17: Kalbaishakhi – the nor’wester – tore through different parts of Tripura on Thursday, leaving a trail of devastation in Amarpur, Udaipur, Kakraban, and surrounding areas in the Gomati district of Tripura.
The Kalbaishakhi, characterized by high winds and rainfall, caused widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and power systems, plunging entire regions into darkness.
As the state grapples with the aftermath, the Meteorological Department has issued fresh warnings for continued severe weather, urging residents to remain vigilant.
Impact in Amarpur
In Amarpur, the Kalbaishakhi (nor’wester) storm struck on Thursday afternoon. The fierce winds demolished numerous homes, particularly in the Debbari area, where four to five houses were severely damaged.
Roofs were torn off, and bamboo fences were swept away, leaving families exposed to the elements. The storm’s fury also uprooted large trees, which crashed onto power lines, severing electricity across the town.
By 9:30 pm on Thursday, Amarpur remained shrouded in darkness, with restoration efforts hampered by the extent of the damage.
The storm’s impact extended beyond homes. A battery-operated rickshaw parked near the Amarpur Ramakrishna Pathachakra Ashram was crushed by a falling tree, and a newly installed solar light in the Chandibari school field was uprooted.
Landslips triggered by the storm blocked roads, further complicating recovery efforts. Local residents expressed shock at the scale of destruction, with many now facing the daunting task of rebuilding their lives.
Kalbaishakhi hits Udaipur and Kakraban
In Udaipur and Kakraban, a severe Kalbaishakhi storm unleashed chaos around 4 pm on Thursday.
I From archive: Nor’wester hits Tripura: 3 injured, houses, crops damaged l
The storm hit hard was along the Kakraban-Mirza road in the Rani area, where a massive banyan tree fell onto a 33 kV main power line, snapping a pillar and disrupting electricity supply.
Across the Udaipur subdivision, approximately 300 homes sustained damage, ranging from partial destruction to complete collapse, sources claimed. Fallen trees and toppled power poles littered roads and obstructed repair efforts, creating significant challenges for emergency crews.
Responding swiftly, SDO Sujit Das from the Kakraban Electric Sub-Divisional Office, alongside Kakraban Forest Officers and Disaster Management teams, arrived at the scene to assess the damage and coordinate repairs.
While crews worked tirelessly to restore power, officials reported that full normalization would take time due to the extensive damage.
Department sources indicated that repair work on power lines and poles was expected to continue through the night, with hopes of restoring services by Friday morning.
Meteorological Warnings
Adding to the state’s woes, the Meteorological Department issued a fresh alert on Thursday, forecasting heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds across multiple districts.
West and Sepahijala districts are expected to experience winds of 40–50 km/h until 8:30 am Friday, while Khowai, Dhalai, Unakoti, and North districts face warnings for scattered heavy rainfall.
South, North, Khowai, Unakoti, and Gomati districts are also under alert for winds of 30–40 km/h through Friday afternoon.
Mild shower in Agartala
Agartala also experienced mild shower for second successive days today. Since afternoon, dark clouds overcast Agartala skyline and scattered rain for a brief period brought relief from scorching heat.
However , with drainage and sewerage system in precarious condition due construction of drains in Agartala, a smart rain even for a brief period would inundate the city. Every year, most part of Agartala goes under water as drains overflows. It is true that water pumps flush out overflowing drain water but the dirt with foul smelling it leaves behind is annoying and harmful to well being.
Meantime, the Agartala airport area recorded 12.4 mm of rainfall on Thursday, with temperatures expected to hover between 21°C and 30°C on Friday.
