Due to the flood and incessant rains the agriculture sector was hit hard with croplands of the state being inundated and standing crops being wholly destroyed. According to a preliminary estimate the agriculture produce of about Rs 531.25 crore was lost and approximately 68,826 hectares of agricultural land devastated- this meant as many as 1,41,406 farmers were affected financially.
Minister for Agriculture Ratanlal Nath who also holds the portfolio of power on Friday in a press conference said, the recent flood caused massive damages to agriculture, horticulture, and power infrastructure across the state.
He said, 1,05,101 hectares of Aman paddy fields are still under water. In the horticulture sector, 5,614 hectares of land have been partially or entirely affected, leading to losses of Rs. 167.14 crore for over 27,000 farmers.
He also revealed substantial damage to the electricity infrastructure. Of the total electricity consumers in the state, 3,19,773 have been affected in various ways.
As per the latest reports, 1,603 electric poles have collapsed, 501 transformers have been damaged, and 642 kilometers of conductors have been ruined.
Two sub-stations, operating at 33 kV and 66 kV, have been completely destroyed. Moreover, nine locations have experienced breakdowns of 33 kV power lines, with repairs completed at three of these sites so far. The power department has incurred losses amounting to Rs. 9.02 crore.
To restore normalcy to the state’s power supply, 111 teams, each consisting of 8-10 members, are working tirelessly. However, in many areas of Gomati and South Tripura districts, repair work is being hindered by waterlogged conditions, making it difficult for workers to reach affected sites.
In Agartala, 25 teams are working round the clock to restore the power system in Circle-1 of the city. The Power Minister assured that the department is making all possible efforts to normalize the state’s power supply.
He emphasized that the state has never experienced such rainfall in recent years. He recalled that in 1952, heavy rainfall in Agartala caused significant damage, with similar incidents occurring in 1983 and 1993.
However, the current rainfall surpasses all previous records, leading to unprecedented flood conditions in the state.
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