At least four fishermen are feared dead when their makeshift ‘Mancha’ (platform) collapsed due to a Norwester wind at Dumboor Lake in Tripura’s Dhalai district, officials said on Sunday.
Officials said that one of the bodies has been recovered so far.
An official of the Dhalai District administration said that the fishermen often stay in the makeshift ‘Mancha’ to carry out fishing in the giant Dumboor Lake.
“Late on Saturday night, the makeshift ‘Mancha’ collapsed due to the Norwester wind and rain and the four fishermen fell into the deep water of the lake. The state disaster management personnel recovered one of the bodies. The NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) personnel were called to join the search operation,” the official told IANS.
Senior district administration officials are camping in the area, 120 km south of Agartala.
Further details of the mishap are awaited.
There is a hydel power project near the lake from where the state's main River Gomati originates.
Chief Minister of Tripura Dr Manik Saha in a social media post wrote, "I am aware of the unfortunate incident in which four fishermen went missing in a whirlpool in the Dumbur reservoir due to a cyclone.
Under the supervision of the administration, it has been possible to recover the body of one of them so far and the search for the remaining three is on. I express my condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. The state government is by their side in this difficult time."
Notably, a cyclone accompanied by rain and hail swept across different parts of Tripura and caused extensive damages in various areas under the Khowai, Sepahijala and South Tripura Districts.
Power transmission system was badly hit and crops were damaged at different places. Except the tragedy at the Dumboor reservoir, there is no report of death or injuries
The Chief Minister assured the victims would be compensated as per the Disaster management policy.