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TL;DR
- India denies that the Dumbur Dam is responsible for Bangladesh’s recent floods.
- Heavy rainfall in the Gumti River catchment areas is blamed for the flooding.
- India and Bangladesh emphasize cooperation on managing shared river resources.
- Indian High Commissioner to meet Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser to discuss the situation.
In response to concerns expressed by Bangladesh regarding the recent flood situation, India has clarified that the flooding in eastern Bangladesh is not caused by the release of water from the Dumbur Dam in Tripura. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement on Thursday, asserting that the claims about the dam’s role in the flooding are “factually not correct.”
The flooding in Bangladesh has been attributed to heavy rains in the catchment areas of the Gumti River, which flows through both India and Bangladesh. According to the MEA, these areas have experienced the heaviest rainfall of the year in recent days, leading to the current flood conditions. The Dumbur Dam, located over 120 kilometers upstream from the Bangladesh border, is a low-height structure primarily used for power generation. Bangladesh also receives 40 MW of power from Tripura’s grid, which is fed by the dam.
India emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two countries, which share 54 cross-border rivers, in managing river water resources and addressing mutual concerns. The MEA reiterated India’s commitment to resolving water-related issues through bilateral consultations and technical discussions.
The flood situation in Bangladesh has been exacerbated by ongoing heavy rainfall since August 21 in Tripura and adjacent Bangladeshi districts. The MEA noted that automatic water releases have been observed due to the heavy inflow. Despite a power outage at 6:00 PM on August 21, which affected communication, India has continued to transmit real-time flood data to Bangladesh through alternative means.
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, is scheduled to meet with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to discuss the flood situation among other topics. This meeting underscores the ongoing diplomatic engagement between India and Bangladesh to address the challenges posed by natural disasters affecting both nations.
