Nearly 6,000 rendered homeless as Nor’wester hits Tripura
Agartala: A woman was killed and nearly 6000 people were rendered homeless in Tripura after a nor’wester ripped through the state for two consecutive days, damaging hutments and croplands and uprooting trees and electric posts, a government official said Thursday. A tribal woman, who was on her way home from work, was struck by lightning on Wednesday night, resulting in her immediate death, Sarat K Das, the project officer of the state’s disaster management department, said. Of the eight districts in the state, West Tripura suffered the maximum damage, he said. The NDRF and paramilitary forces have been put on standby for relief operations, with the Meteorological department predicting more rain in the next 24 hours, Das stated. “A total of 5,894 people have lost homes in the storm and the subsequent downpour. They have been shifted to 48 relief camps, set up in Khowai and West Tripura districts,” he said, adding that water level in River Howrah, Khowai, Gomati and Katakhal canal have exceeded safety limits. Subhasish Bandopaddhyay, the sub-divisional magistrate of Jirania in West Tripura district, said all affected families have been provided with food, water and clothes. (PTI)
Nagaland PAC condemns firing by miscreants on trucks
Kohima: The Public Action Committee (PAC) of the Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) has vehemently condemned the ‘indiscriminate firing’ by unknown miscreants on moving trucks on Wednesday night in Dimapur, where a driver and handyman were injured. According to a press release issued by PAC convener Vekhosayi Nyekha and coconvenor K Ghokheto said two Manipur bound trucks were fired upon at around 9pm of Wednesday, near Green Park junction at the 5th Mile area of Dimapur town with .9 mm pistols and sophisticated weapons. PAC said such ‘criminal act’ has created a fear psychosis in the minds of the peaceful citizens. PAC has asked the authorities to probe the incident with all seriousness and apprehend the perpetrators. PAC has also appealed to the public to extend all possible help to curb such criminal activities so that peace and tranquility may prevail in the society, the release said. (UNI)
Brown sugar seized from Manipur border, one arrested
Imphal: A combined team of Assam Rifles and Manipur Police commandos arrested tribal drug trafficker on Tuesday near international border town Moreh and seized over 9 kg of brown sugar. Police officer K. Robinson said that on receipt of intelligence inputs, a trap was laid along National Highway 102 on Tuesday morning and a car coming from Moreh and going towards Imphal was intercepted. A search revealed packets of 9.36 kg brown sugar, valued at over Rs 1.8 crore, concealed inside the car. H. Haokip, the driver of the car, was handed over to the police along with the car and drugs for necessary follow-up action. Official circles told IANS that almost every week, contraband gold, drugs, illegal arms and other items are seized along the 110 km long NH 102 connecting Moreh and Imphal. There have been reports of seizures in other states too. (IANS)
