Tripura Directorate of Family Welfare and Preventive Medicine advises public to ensure safe drinking water amid flooding

Agartala (Tripura) [India], August 26 (ANI): The Tripura Directorate of Family Welfare and Preventive Medicine advised the public on Monday to ensure safe drinking water due to the possibility of water contamination, which poses a significant health risk.
Tripura has been experiencing severe flooding amid heavy downpours across several parts of the state in recent days.
The department recommended that everyone consume at least 5 litres of clean water daily for drinking and 20 litres for other needs. Officials also advised consulting local authorities to verify the safety of tap water and prioritising breastfeeding for infants when water quality is uncertain.
The department further advised boiling water and using bleach or chlorine tablets for purification.
"For clear water, add 1/8 teaspoon of bleach per gallon; for cloudy water, add 1/2 teaspoon. Allow 30 minutes before using. Store water in clean, covered containers, and disinfect them regularly. Wells and tanks should be super-chlorinated by adding a paste made from bleaching powder and water," officials stated in a press conference.
Meanwhile, 3 State Disaster Response Force (TSR) teams, 5 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, and around 500 Civil Defence and Aapda Mitra volunteers are engaged in relief operations in the Gomati and Sepahijala districts, the state power department informed.
According to the Department of Power, 471 relief camps are operational, sheltering over 70,000 people, with essential supplies being provided.
The number of deaths has risen to 26, with one person missing and two others injured.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall for the next two days, starting on Monday, in one or two places over South Tripura District, issuing a yellow alert.
Tripura's Public Welfare Department (PWD) reported that the disaster has severely impacted the state's infrastructure, particularly roads, bridges, and water resources.
A total of 4,658.86 km of roads have been affected, with landslides occurring at 4,644 locations and erosion at 3,739 sites. Despite the challenges, 88% of the landslides have been cleared, and temporary restoration work has been completed at 1,048 erosion sites. The damage to roads, bridges, and culverts is estimated at Rs1,825 crores, six times the department's annual maintenance budget, according to the state PWD.
Earlier today, the Tripura government requested the central government to send an advance Inter-Ministerial Central Team to Tripura for an on-site assessment of the damage caused by the recent floods.
The Tripura disaster department stated on Monday that the interministerial central team would assist the state government in submitting a memorandum for additional support from the central government for restoration works. (ANI)