MEA Denies Link Between Bangladesh Floods & Indian Dumbur Dam

Amidst media reports in Bangladesh alleging that the recent floods in the country are due to the release of water from the Dumbur Dam in Tripura, India has clarified that this claim is incorrect.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a statement refuting these allegations and providing context on the matter.

The MEA emphasized that the current flooding in Bangladesh, particularly affecting districts near the eastern border, is not attributable to the operation of the Dumbur Dam.

The MEA responded to concerns from Bangladesh about the Dumbur Dam, stating that these claims about its impact on the current flood situation are factually incorrect.

The statement explained that the floods are primarily a result of heavy rainfall affecting large catchment areas downstream of the dam, rather than any water release from Tripura.

The Dumbur Dam, located over 120 kilometers upstream from the Bangladesh border, is a relatively low-height structure at approximately 30 meters.

It primarily generates power, supplying 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh as part of the regional grid.

India has highlighted the shared nature of flood challenges between the two countries, which both suffer from flooding on common rivers.

MEA Stresses Cooperative Efforts On Cross-Border River Issues

The MEA reiterated the importance of cooperative efforts to manage and resolve these issues.

“As two nations sharing 54 cross-border rivers, river water cooperation is crucial. We remain committed to addressing mutual concerns through bilateral discussions and technical consultations,” the MEA further added.

Monitoring along the Gumti River is conducted through three observation sites Amarpur, Sonamura, and Sonamura 2 situated along the river’s 120-kilometer course.

Heavy rainfall in Tripura and neighboring districts of Bangladesh since 21 August has led to automatic water releases.

Under a bilateral protocol, Amarpur station provides real-time flood data to Bangladesh, showing a rising trend up to 3:00 PM on August 21.

Due to flooding, a power outage at 6:00 PM caused communication issues. Authorities used alternative methods to ensure urgent data transmission.

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