AGARTALA — Heavy downpour for the past few days triggered floods in three Tripura districts, forcing around 11,000 people to seek refuge in relief camps, an official said on Friday.
Congress Birajit Sinha alleged that the water resource department failed to repair the sluice gates in time, which led to flash floods in several low-lying areas of Unakoti, Dhalai and Khowai districts.
However, no loss of life has been reported till now.
A State Disaster Management Authority official said that waters of the swollen Manun river have started receding, following a let-up in rains.
"As many as 6,068 people of Unakoti district have taken shelter in 35 relief camps. However, the flood situation improved on Friday with the river water receding," said Sanat Kumar Das, the project director of the State Disaster Management Authority.
He said that in Dhalai and Khowai districts, 4,909 people hit by the deluge have taken shelter in relief camps.
"Around 11,000 people were rendered homeless due to the flood triggered by heavy rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday. No death has been reported yet, but 4,027 houses have been damaged," Das said.
Reacting to the MLA's allegation, the official said that in Kailashahar subdivision, 19 sluice gates to control the waters of the river Manu could not be repaired in time due to a controversy over finalising a tender.
The only way to save Kailashahar is to immediately repair the sluice gates and the river embankments, he said.
The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rainfall in multiple districts of the state.