Tripura flood situation grim, CM seeks Army assistance
Agartala, June 14 : Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Thursday sought the Army's assistance in rescue operations in the flood-hit state as incessant rains continued for the third day leading to floods and landslides - forcing some 50,000 people to take shelter in relief camps and claiming four lives.
Deb informed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in a telephonic conversation on Thursday morning of the situation and apprised him of the steps taken by the state government.
"Apprised Rajnath Singhji about the flood situation and the ongoing relief work in Tripura. Requested for assistance from the Army for rescue operations in a few critical locations. The Home Ministry has assured all the necessary support from the Central government," Deb tweeted.
The Chief Minister also requested the Home Minister to "urgently" increase the number of National Disaster Response Force personnel in Tripura.
An official statement said the Centre has assured all the necessary support to Tripura to deal with the flood situation. It has asked the Army Chief, General Bipin Rawat, to take necessary action.
Meanwhile, an official of the Tripura Disaster Management Control Centre said that around 50,000 people of over 10,000 families took shelter in around 200 relief camps in different parts of the state mostly in northern Tripura.
"At least four people, including two aged men and a teenager, died across Tripura since Tuesday due to landslides, falling trees or fishing in flooded rivers," the official said.
"We have kept ready a Pawan Hans helicopter and sent requisition to the Indian Air Force (IAF) to provide two more copters to rescue marooned people and to provide relief to the affected families if necessary."
He said that Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters on Wednesday and Thursday could not fly from Silchar in southern Assam due to bad weather.
The Disaster Management official said that the situation in northern Tripura's Unokoti district deteriorated after three old embankments of the Manu River was breached.
Waters of many rivers of Tripura are flowing over the danger levels. Flood waters inundated many villages, homes, paddy fields highways besides low-lying areas.
Landslides have occurred in many highways affecting movement of traffic.
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India beat Japan 2-0, to face China in final of women's ACT hockey
Rajgir (Bihar), Nov 19: Defending champions India continued their unbeaten run and defeated Japan 2-0 to enter the final of the women's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Tuesday.
Vice-captain Navneet Kaur converted a penalty stroke in the 48th minute while Lalaremsiami struck from field play in the 56th minute for India, who had plenty of scoring chances including 13 penalty corners.
India will face China, whom they defeated in the league stages, in the final on Wednesday. Earlier, China beat Malaysia 3-1 in the first semifinal.
Malaysia will take on Japan in the third-fourth place match, while Korea finished fifth after beating Thailand 3-0 in the fifth-sixth place classification match.
The Indians continued their attacking game and put on early pressure on the Japanese defence, just like the last league game.
The play was mostly inside the Japanese half as the Indian defence was hardly tested.
India had the first shot at the goal inside the initial five minute. Skipper Salima Tete's attempt was thwarted by Japanse goalkeeper Yu Kudo.
The Indians repeatedly penetrated the Japanese citadel and in the process secured two penalty corners in a span of two minutes but Kudo was alert under the bar to deny Navneet Kaur and Deepika.
Three minutes into the second quarter, India secured three back-to-back penalty corners but failed to find the back of the net.
It was raining penalty corners for the hosts as they got back-to-back set pieces in the 21st minute but Kudo produced a brilliant save with her fully-stretched right leg to deny Deepika again.
In the 24th minute, India earned a penalty corner followed by another in the next minute but failed to get past Japanese goalkeeper Kudo, as they also lacked in execution.
A minute after the change of ends, India secured two penalty corners but wasted both.
In the 35th minute, Kodu again denied Deepika from a set piece.
In the 41st minute, Deepika stole the ball just outside the Japanese circle, but shot wide from a one-on-one situation with Kudo.
Seconds from the end of third quarter, Kudo once again pulled off a brilliant save to deny Udita from another penalty corner.
In the 47th minute, India secured their 12th penalty corner but failed to breach Kudo.
But a minute later, India broke the deadlock through a penalty stroke earned by Deepika and Navneet made no mistake.
The goal seemed to have rejuvenated the Indians as they scored a fine field goal in the 56th minute.
Lalremsiami slammed into the back of the Japanese goal after she was brilliantly set up by Sunelita Toppo's terrific run from the right flank.
Japan got a penalty corner in the dying moments, but failed to get past a rock solid Indian defence.
