IMD sounds warnings for heavy rainfall across Tripura for 3 days, govt issued advisory for all districts

After India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued warnings of heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rainfall and squally/gusty winds over Tripura during May 28 to May 31st, 2025, the state government also issued advisories to all district magistrates on Wednesday.

IMD’s Agartala station in its current weather condition said that “The Well marked low Pressure area over Northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast persists over the same region at 0830 hrs IST of today, the 28th May 2025. Associated cyclonic circulation extends upto 7.6 km above mean sea level tilting southwards with height. It is likely to move slowly northwards and concentrate into a Depression over north Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours. Under its influence, Heavy to Very Heavy rainfall with Isolated Extremely Heavy Rainfall and Squally/Gusty winds is very likely to occur over the districts of Tripura.”

An advisory issued by Deputy Secretary C K Molsom of the Revenue department said, “The extreme weather and heavy rainfall may occur due to the low-pressure area created over the northwest Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast.”

The DMs were instructed to follow the IMD’s impact-based advisories and follow a set of measures, including regularly assessing the situation; alerting the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Tripura State Rifles (TSR), Fire and Emergency Services, trained volunteers, and Quick Response Teams (QRT); and identifying locations to deploy the personnel to immediately if needed.

The advisory also asked the DMs to ready equipment like boats, life-saving jackets and other flood rescue items; monitor water flow in rivers, embankments, and catchment areas; and take immediate preventive and preparedness measures; evacuate people from low-lying areas to the safe shelters; start rolling out relief if needed; make immediate damage assessment; and report to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) by 2 pm along with reports of action taken.

The IMD has forecast that heavy to very heavy rain (7-20 cm) is very likely all over Tripura and thunderstorms, with lightning and gusty wind reaching 40-50 kmph at a few places in all districts on Wednesday.

For the second day (May 29) of the “Red” warning period, the IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rain (7-20 cm) with isolated extremely heavy (20 cm) rainfall in West Tripura and Khowai districts, while heavy to very heavy rain (7-20 cm) is likely to occur at few places in rest of the districts, with thunderstorms with lighting and squally winds reaching 40-50 kmph, even gusting to 60 kmph, very likely at one or two places all over the state.

For the third day (May 30) with “Orange” warning, the IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rain (7-20 cm) in parts of North Tripura, Dhalai, Sepahijala, Gomati and South Tripura districts, while thunderstorms with lighting and squally winds reaching 40-50 kmph, even gusting to 60 kmph, are very likely at a few places all over the state. Heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) is also predicted in parts of other districts of the state.

For the last day (May 31) with “Yellow” warning, IMD has predicted heavy rainfall to occur in parts of the entire state, while thunderstorms and gusty winds reaching 30-40 kmph are very likely in parts of all the districts.

It may be recalled here that devastating floods cost 38 lives last year, apart from affecting over 17 lakh people and causing damage worth Rs 15,000 crore, including in road connectivity, power transmission, flood management infrastructure, domestic households and public infrastructure, livestock, and agriculture.

Over two lakh people were shifted to 889 relief camps last year, with 11 out of the 12 rivers in the state flowing above the danger level.

Earlier, on May 26, the Southwest Monsoon had advanced into entire parts of Tripura along with other Northeastern states on the same day, which was 10 days before its normal date, which entered Kerala on May 24th. Last year the Southwest Monsoon advanced into entire parts of Tripura on May 30th, 2024.