Cyclone Sitrang spoiled the Diwali celebrations, disrupted normal life, hit electric supply and flattened many houses in Tripura on Monday. However, there is no report of any casualty due to the Cyclone.

Menacing dark clouds and gusty winds along with sporadic showers under the influence of Cyclone Sitrang pressed the panic button on Monday early morning. NDRF teams were ready and administration was on toe to meet any eventuality. As there was no heavy rainfall as was forecast, damage was limited – there was no flooding, water logging induced displacement etc. Satrang caused damages in Tripura with its gusty wind.

Cyclone Sitrang inflicted maximum damage in Sepahijala district as over 200 houses were damaged on Monday. According to a government press release, seven houses in Sepahijala district were fully damaged while 52 houses were ‘severely’ and 154 houses were ‘partly’ damaged –  total 213 houses were affected. 

Out of the three subdivisions – Bishalgarh, Sonamura and Jampuijala – under the district, Bishalgarh sub-division was the worst affected as 86 houses were partly damaged while 32 houses and seven houses were ‘severely’ and fully damaged.

In Sonamura sub-division, Cyclone Sitarng damaged 68 houses ‘partly’ and 16 houses ‘Severely’, as per the government press release. Sources said financial compensation of Rs 5000 was handed over to three affected families by the Sonamura sub-divisional administration.

In Santirbazar sub-division under the South district total 3700 persons from 24 villages were affected. Cropped areas were also damaged and 35 houses were damaged.

In the West district, seven houses were ‘severely’ damaged and 94 houses were partly damaged.

Total 28 houses were fully damaged while 113 houses were ‘severely’ and 393 houses were ‘partly’ damaged across the State. Total Rs 3.16 lakh financial assistance was distributed among 19 families.

The electric supply system suffered blows as 45 transformers were damaged and total 231 HT poles and 342 LT poles were uprooted across the State causing a loss of total Rs 1.5 crore. However, the TSECL staffs were pressed into service for restoring the normalcy in the power supply.