Cyclone Remal causes huge loss of Rs 5 crore to Tripura’s power infrastructure; The energy and agriculture sectors have been hit hard

Agartala, May 30, 2024: The Tripura Power department has suffered losses of over Rs 5 crore due to the extensive damage caused by cyclone ‘Remal’ across the state on May 27, department secretary Abhishek Singh claimed at a press conference at the Civil Secretariat in Agartala on Thursday.

“There have been no fatalities in the state so far due to the administration’s proactive measures to mitigate the effects of Cyclone Remal,” Secretary Singh said. He detailed the extent of the damage, stating: “Our power system has been severely damaged in all districts. About 550 km of transmission lines, 850 power poles and over 100 transformers were damaged.

Singh further spoke about the ongoing restoration efforts, noting that “994 employees of the contracting company along with those from our department are working tirelessly to restore electricity supply across the state. About 60 percent of the power pole repairs have already been completed, and we want to complete the remaining work quickly.” He also assured the public that the energy department is actively responding to numerous calls from residents asking for help, stating, “Necessary steps are being taken to quickly resolve all issues.”

Addressing a press conference, State Project Officer of the State Disaster Management Authority Sarat Kumar Das said, “The administration in collaboration with the disaster management teams is carrying out a comprehensive assessment of the damage across the state caused by Cyclone ‘Remal’ and is trying to maintain normalcy,” he explained Das. He provided an update on the human impact of the cyclone, revealing that “1,574 houses were destroyed and 12 relief camps are currently operational, providing shelter to 1,220 people.”

Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) Managing Director Debasish Sarkar highlighted the specific damage to power infrastructure. “Our main goal is to quickly restore damaged transmission lines and poles to restore normal power supply. We are working closely with various departments, including the forest department, SDRF, NDRF and the state administration, to accelerate these efforts,” Sarkar said.