Centre approves Rs 40 crore flood relief for Tripura

New Delhi, August 23

The Centre has approved the release of Rs 40 crore for flood-hit Tripura, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday.

Shah said 11 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), three columns of the Army and four helicopters of the Indian Air Force had been deployed to assist the state government in carrying out flood relief and rescue operations.

"Given the flood situation in Tripura, the central govt, under the leadership of Modi Ji, has approved the release of 40 crore in advance, as the central share from SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund), to provide relief to the affected people," he wrote on 'X'.

The Union Home Minister said no matter what, "Our sisters and brothers in Tripura will find the Modi government standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them to battle these difficult times."

Shah on Thursday called up Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha to take stock of the situation in the state and assured him of all assistance from the Centre.

At least 22 people have died and two others went missing, following incessant rainfall, floods and landslides in the past few days, officials said. As many as 65,400 people have taken shelter at 450 relief camps as their houses were damaged due to the downpour in the state.

Around 17 lakh people have been affected by rains and floods in Tripura so far, officials said.