TRIPURA
As several people die and are misplaced in the Tripura floods it is important to acknowledge that for a nation like oar’s disaster management and planning are domains that need the government’s immediate attention.
The New Leam Staff
In Tripura floods and struck killing many people and displacing many others. The floods have been caused after continued rains over the last several days. The floods have displaced many people and made them homeless. Several areas have been waterlogged and water levels are high in three rivers. The low lying areas have been severely affected and several people have had to be rescued.
A part of the Assam-Agartala Highway had also been flooded and transportation has been severely affected. Schools and institutions have been closed. At least 3000 families were given shelter in 36 makeshift camps. Fire service, civil defence and volunteers were jointly working to provide succour to the affected people. The Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb decided to give financial help to victims.
India is known to be a flood prone country and every year we see how floods impact states like Assam, Tripura, West Bengal, Orissa and Bihar. The nation state is aware of the facts that whenever a flood takes place a large number of people die, lose their homes and are displaced, yet it is paradoxical that no adequate initiatives are taken beforehand. It is also an issue of concern that people across the country are not empowered with the skills and techniques by which they can deal with the floods.
There is total helplessness and disillusionment among people whenever such a natural calamity takes place. Compensations and relief funds are also inadequate for most people who suffer during natural calamities and this means that adjusting to the disaster becomes even tougher. Moreover what also happens is that people lose not only their loved ones but also their cattle and property- this makes it difficult for them to find adequate livelihood opportunities after the calamity.
In a country like India where floods strike every year it is important that the nation state adopts infrastructural and policy related mechanisms that allow people to equip themselves sufficiently before such a calamity takes place. This will not only lead to the deaths of a fewer number of people but also enable people to become empowered to handle the issue.
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