15,000 people affected by floods in Tripura

Agartala, Jul 22: Almost 15,000 people have been affected due to inundation of low-lying habitations and agricultural lands in South Tripura following incessant rains across the state during last 24 hours.

Official sources here today said one of the state's major rivers, Gumati, was flowing at danger level, while water level in most of the rivers had increased. About 42.23 mm rainfall was recorded in the state in past 24 hours. The district administration had opened 19 camps so far and shifted the affected people.

''Tripura is facing the threat of flash floods because large number of human habitations have come up close to the water bodies,'' State Flood Control Department officials said.

Meanwhile, the Met department forecast moderate to heavy showers across Northeastern states in next 48 hours following activation of southwest monsoon over NE, Gangetic West Bengal and entire sub-Himalayan region.

''The Southwest monsoon has been active over Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram since last week,'' the report of National Centre Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) at Noida stated.

According to the above forecast, very heavy to heavy rainfall was likely to occur at many places over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya during next 48 hours. The weather till July 23 was likely to be cloudy and most places of the NE would receive rainfall.

UNI