The recent catastrophic floods in Tripura have caused widespread devastation, particularly in the power and water supply sectors, with damages estimated to exceed ₹600 crore. According to Abhishek Singh, Secretary to the Power Department, the power sector alone has suffered losses between ₹200 to ₹250 crore. He provided these updates during a press conference held on Monday, where he was joined by key officials from various departments.
The floods, which have been described as unprecedented, have also inflicted severe damage on the Drinking Water and Sanitation department, with losses amounting to approximately ₹98 crore. Urban and municipal areas across the state have faced significant destruction, with damages estimated at around ₹300 crore. Singh indicated that these figures are preliminary and may rise as final assessments are completed.
The Secretary praised the tireless efforts of engineers and workers in the power department, who have been working around the clock to restore electricity services. He reported that restoration work in several electricity sub-divisions has made significant progress, with completion rates ranging between 67% and 100%. Singh expressed optimism that power services would be fully restored across all districts within the next few days. However, he cautioned that in areas where the damage was particularly extensive, it may take an additional 2 to 3 days to restore electricity.
The floods have severely impacted power generation and transmission lines across the state, with several power lines completely destroyed. Despite these challenges, Singh assured the public that the restoration work is progressing steadily.
In addition to the power sector, the Drinking Water and Sanitation department has been working diligently to ensure the continuous supply of potable water to affected areas. Many water treatment plants, deep and shallow tube wells, and other innovative water supply projects have been damaged. However, efforts to restore these facilities are ongoing, and several water sources have already been made operational. Singh also reassured residents that the amount of alum used in water treatment has been increased as a standard precautionary measure. While this may cause a slight change in the taste of the water, he emphasized that there is no cause for concern.
The press conference was also attended by Biswajit Basu, Managing Director of Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited, Rajat Pant, CEO of Jal Board, Swapan Debbarma, General Manager of the Power Corporation, and Shyamlal Bhowmik, Chief Engineer of the Drinking Water and Sanitation department. These officials provided detailed updates on the ongoing restoration efforts and shared visuals of the work being done to restore power and water supply in flood-affected areas.
Singh also highlighted the ongoing operation of 91 relief camps in various urban and municipal areas, where health and hygiene measures are being implemented, including the use of bleaching powder and inspection of drainage systems.
