In a statement released today, the Ministry of External Affairs of India clarified that the ongoing flood situation in the eastern districts of Bangladesh is not due to the release of water from the Dumbur Dam on the Gumti River in Tripura. This clarification comes amidst concerns and reports in Bangladesh suggesting that the current floods were triggered by the opening of the dam.
The Indian government emphasized that the Gumti River’s catchment areas, which extend across both India and Bangladesh, have experienced the heaviest rainfall of the year in recent days. The statement pointed out that the excessive rainfall, rather than any deliberate release of water from the dam, is the primary cause of the floods currently affecting Bangladesh.
“The Dumbur Dam is located over 120 kilometers upstream from the Bangladesh border and is a low-height structure, standing at about 30 meters. Its primary function is to generate power, a portion of which—approximately 40 MW—is also supplied to Bangladesh,” the statement read.
India also provided details on the river’s monitoring system, noting that there are three water level observation sites along the 120 km stretch of the Gumti River. These sites—Amarpur, Sonamura, and Sonamura 2—have recorded the rising water levels caused by the intense rainfall.
India further mentioned that heavy rains have been ongoing since August 21 in both Tripura and adjacent districts of Bangladesh. During periods of heavy inflow, automatic releases of water from the dam have been observed. However, the Indian authorities assured that they have been actively sharing real-time flood data with Bangladesh under a bilateral protocol. Despite a power outage at 6:00 PM on August 21 due to flooding, India continued to communicate through alternative means to ensure the urgent transmission of data.
The statement concluded by underscoring the shared nature of flood-related challenges between the two countries, which are interconnected by 54 cross-border rivers. India reiterated its commitment to resolving issues related to water resources and river management through bilateral consultations and technical discussions.
The clarification from India aims to dispel any misinformation and reinforce the importance of cooperation between the neighboring countries in managing natural disasters like floods.