Agriculture and Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Saturday said that the catastrophic flood in Tripura, which was ravaged extensively by the monsoon deluge for the first time in over three decades killed at least 26 people, damaged crops and electrical properties worth over Rs 707.41 crore as per preliminary assessments.
The minister said that due to the floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains since August 19, various standing crops have been damaged in 68,826 hectares of crop land valued at Rs 531.25 crore affecting 1,41,406 farmers.
He said that horticultural crops in 5,614 hectares of land worth Rs 167.14 crore have been damaged affecting over 27,000 farmers.
The Minister said that the power department suffered a loss of huge assets worth Rs 9.2 crore as 1,603 electrical poles collapsed, 501 big transformers and many other properties and machinery were damaged affecting 3,19,773 electricity consumers across the state.
“All the losses are estimated based on preliminary assessments. After the flood water completely recedes then the final field assessment of damages and losses would be calculated,” the Agriculture and Power minister told the media.
Nath said that after 1952, 1983 and 1993, Tripura witnessed such catastrophic rains, floods and landslides for the first time.
According to Disaster Management Department officials, over 1,055 houses were damaged either fully or partially and hundreds of trees were uprooted, blocking many important highways.
Landslides occurred in 2,032 places across the state and the debris has been cleared.
A Revenue Department official said: “Preliminary reports suggest extensive damage to physical infrastructure including roads, bridges, electricity, buildings and houses. The actual amount of damages would be known only after the field visit and assessments were completed.”
He added that according to preliminary estimates, properties valued at approximately Rs 5,000 crore have been damaged, though many areas are yet to be visited for preliminary assessments.
ISKCON condemns attacks on Hindu temples in B'desh, raises concerns for safety of all minorities
Vice President and Spokesperson of Kolkata ISKCON, Radharaman Das, has strongly condemned the recent attacks on Hindu temples in Bangladesh and expressed grave concerns for the safety of all minority communities in the country.
Karnataka: Virat Kohli's pub gets civic body's notice for fire safety violations
Civic body Bengaluru Bruhat Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has issued a notice to cricketer Virat Kohli's pub 'One8 Commune' over alleged fire safety violations.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar brings peace through meditation to UN headquarters consumed by global turmoil
Eighteen minutes of tranquility descended on the world organisation’s headquarters consumed by global turmoil as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar led a meditation session as a path to peace at the United Nations.
Three Hindu temples vandalised in Bangladesh; one arrested
Over two consecutive days, miscreants targeted three Hindu temples in Bangladesh, vandalising eight idols in Mymensingh and Dinajpur districts, according to local media reports.
At minus 8.5 degrees Celsius, Srinagar records lowest minimum temperature in 24 years
On the first day of the 40-day period of extreme winter cold called the 'Chillai Kalan' on Saturday, Srinagar city froze at minus 8.5 degrees Celsius, recording the lowest temperature since 2000.
Opportunity to chalk out road map for futuristic partnership: PM Modi emplanes for Kuwait
Prime Minister Narendra Modi emplaned for his historic two-day visit to Kuwait on Saturday, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the Gulf nation in 43 years.
55th GST Council meet: All eyes on health insurance premiums, ATF, 'Sin Tax'
As the 55th meeting of the GST Council was set to begin in Jaisalmer on Saturday, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the proposed rate cut on health insurance premiums and the inclusion of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) under the GST ambit would be among the key focus areas.
PM Modi to begin historic Kuwait visit today; focus on labour, bilateral ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a landmark two-day visit to Kuwait on Saturday, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Gulf nation in 43 years.