New Delhi: As floods continue to disrupt life in parts of Tripura, claiming at least 22 lives and affecting more than 17 lakh residents, the Assam Rifles has joined rescue and relief efforts in full swing, having rescued 334 civilians stranded due to rising floodwaters since its deployment in affected areas.
Two columns from the 18 Assam Rifles, operating under the command of HQ 21 Sector Assam Rifles and Inspector General Assam Rifles (East), have been deployed across the flood-affected areas of Amarpur, Bhampur, Bishalgarh, and Ramnagar in Tripura.
Operational control of Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), is with the Army. The force is commanded by an officer of the rank of Lieutenant General.
The Army in a statement Friday said two dedicated columns with a combined strength of over 80 personnel are actively engaged in rescue and relief efforts. Assam Rifles, it added, also provided 85 civilians with essential supplies including ration, besides medical aid to seven others.
Ten major rivers flow through Tripura, namely Haora, Manu, Deo, Longai, Juri, Dhalai, Khowai, Gumti, Muhuri, and Feni. According to the state disaster management authority, all rivers flowing through the state have been overflowing, primarily affecting six of the state’s districts, namely Dhalai, Khowai, South Tripura, West Tripura, South Tripura and Unakoti.
More than 65,000 civilians are taking shelter in 450 relief camps set up across the state, with the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and Army jointly carrying out rescue and relief efforts.
With an international border spanning 856 km or 84 percent of the total length of its boundaries, Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on its north, south and west. This is also why the flood situation has become the latest flash point between India and the newly sworn-in interim government in Bangladesh led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Given the state’s geographical proximity to Bangladesh, officials and residents in the neighbouring country have blamed India for flash floods in the eastern part of Bangladesh which they allege was a result of India opening the gates of the Dumboor dam, upstream of the Gumti river in Tripura, without any warning in advance.
On Thursday, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a statement countering such claims, terming them “factually not accurate”.
“We have seen concerns being expressed in Bangladesh that the current situation of flood in districts on the eastern borders of Bangladesh has been caused by opening of the Dumbur dam upstream of the Gumti River in Tripura. This is factually not correct,” it said.
In its statement, MEA also pointed out that catchment areas of Gumti river that flow through India and Bangladesh “witnessed heaviest rains of this year over the last few days”. “The flood in Bangladesh is primarily due to waters from these large catchments downstream of the dam,” it added.
It further stated that heavy rainfall had been continuing since 21 August in all of Tripura and adjoining districts of Bangladesh and that in the event of heavy inflow, automatic releases had been observed.
Clarifying the same, Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath took to X to assert that no gate of the Gumti hydro-electric project had been opened.
“The reservoir’s capacity to hold water is up to 94 metres (height). When the water crosses this mark, it will automatically escape through the gate. When the water level comes down from 94 metre in the reservoir, the gates will automatically close. Water has been escaping through the gate like this. Water is escaping at 509 per cent rate through one of the gates. There is no reason to be unnecessarily alarmed due to this. The administration is aware of the entire situation. Requesting people in the concerned area to be alert.”
Commissioned in 1974, the Gumti hydel project with an installed capacity of 15 MW is located in the South Tripura district.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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