Due to an unusual rise in the water level of the Ganges River in Bihar, India has opened 109 gates of the Farakka Barrage in Murshidabad district, West Bengal. According to sources from the Indian government, the water level at the Farakka Barrage has surpassed the danger level of 76 feet and currently stands at 76 feet. However, this release of water has not yet caused any flooding, and it is uncertain whether it will lead to flooding in the future, as the water is being released in a controlled manner.
A source from the Indian government has stated that not all the gates of the Farakka Barrage have been opened to the same height. Some gates have been opened by 10 or 12 feet, while others have been opened by 3 or 4 feet. As a result, the water is being released in a controlled manner, preventing a uniform outflow. This controlled release is the reason why the downstream areas of the Farakka Barrage have not experienced any significant increase in water levels.
Since the gates were opened on 24 August, water has been released, but there has been no significant rise in the water levels of rivers over the past two days. The Farakka Block and Shamsherganj Block have not been partially submerged, which is evidence of the water’s stability. However, if the water level of the Ganges in Bihar continues to rise, it is impossible to predict what might happen in the coming days.
Sardar Uday Rayhan, the executive engineer of Bangladesh’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, reported that there has been no noticeable increase in water levels at the points where water from Farakka enters Bangladesh. However, there is a possibility of a rise in river water levels in Khulna and Barishal due to increased rainfall.