By Firstdespatch Desk Apr 29, 2026
Agartala, Apr 29 (FD) Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Tuesday held an emergency meeting with senior officials at his official residence to review the critical situation arising from the recent rainstorm and continuing rainfall across the state, which has caused widespread hardship to residents.
The meeting, held at the TIFT conference hall, was attended by Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, Director General of Police Anurag Dhankhar, along with senior secretaries and District Magistrates of all eight districts.
Official sources said that while detailed decisions taken at the meeting are yet to be formally announced, the government is preparing to roll out extensive relief measures to mitigate public suffering. A compensation package is also expected for those who have lost homes, standing crops and other assets in the statewide storm.
Preliminary assessments indicate that the damage caused by Monday night’s powerful nor’wester was more severe than the rainfall recorded subsequently. Authorities are currently compiling detailed reports on the extent of destruction.
As per initial estimates available till last night, over 1,534 houses were destroyed in the storm, with additional damage reported from subsequent rainfall. A tribal woman was killed in a lightning strike in the Chhailengta area of Dhalai district on Monday night.
Among the worst-hit sectors is agriculture, with a large sunflower garden in Charilam nearly wiped out. Standing crops have suffered losses in several parts of the state, though comprehensive figures are still awaited. Sepahijala district is reported to have borne the brunt of the damage, with its agricultural system severely affected in many areas.
The storm also triggered a major power crisis, as hundreds of electric poles were uprooted due to high-velocity winds, disrupting electricity supply in large parts of the state.
Meanwhile, sources noted that the perennial problem of waterlogging in Agartala was relatively less severe over the past two days due to faster drainage, although officials indicated that the situation could have improved further had ongoing drainage infrastructure projects been completed on time. FD JK