The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India has refuted claims that the recent devastating floods in eastern Bangladesh were caused by the release of water from the Dumbur dam on the Gumti River in Tripura. In a statement released today, the MEA addressed concerns expressed in Bangladesh, clarifying that the floods affecting districts along the eastern borders were not due to the dam’s operations.
“We have seen concerns being expressed in Bangladesh that the current situation of flood in districts on the eastern borders of Bangladesh has been caused by opening of the Dumbur dam upstream of the Gumti river in Tripura. This is factually not correct,” the MEA stated.
The flooding, which has impacted over three million people, has submerged vast areas in the districts of Feni, Noakhali, Cumilla, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Brahmanbaria, and Chattogram. Among these, Feni and Noakhali are reported to be the most severely affected.
According to the MEA, the primary cause of the flooding is the unprecedented heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of the Gumti River, which flows through both India and Bangladesh. The statement emphasized that the Dumbur dam, located over 120 kilometers upstream from the Bangladesh border, is a low-height dam primarily used for power generation. The dam supplies 40MW of power to Bangladesh as part of a cooperative arrangement.
The MEA noted that the heavy rainfall began on August 21 and has continued to affect Tripura and the adjoining districts in Bangladesh. The floodwaters have been driven by the substantial inflows from the catchment areas, not by any intentional release from the dam. The statement also highlighted the efforts to maintain communication and data sharing between the two countries despite challenges, such as a power outage on August 21 due to flooding.
India operates three water level observation sites along the Gumti River as part of a bilateral protocol with Bangladesh, ensuring real-time flood data transmission. The MEA underscored the importance of continued cooperation between the two nations in managing their shared water resources, noting that floods on common rivers are a mutual challenge.
“Floods on the common rivers between India and Bangladesh are a shared problem inflicting sufferings to people on both sides and require close mutual cooperation towards resolving them,” the statement concluded. The MEA reaffirmed India’s commitment to addressing these issues through bilateral consultations and technical discussions.