New Delhi

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday clarified that the current flooding in Bangladesh's eastern border districts is not due to the release of water from the Dumbur dam in Tripura. The MEA explained that recent heavy rains in the Gumti River's catchment areas, which span both India and Bangladesh, are the primary cause of the floods.

The Dumbur dam, located over 120 kilometers upstream from the Bangladesh border, is a low-height structure (about 30 meters) used for power generation. It supplies 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh. The MEA highlighted that the dam's location and size are not linked to the recent flooding.

Heavy rainfall since August 21 in Tripura and nearby Bangladeshi districts has led to significant water flow in the river. The MEA noted that there are three water level observation sites along the river, Amarpur, Sonamura, and Sonamura 2. The Amarpur station, part of a bilateral agreement, provides real-time flood data to Bangladesh. The MEA also mentioned that while there was a power outage affecting communication at 6:00 PM on August 21, efforts were made to maintain data transmission through alternative means. The ministry reaffirmed the importance of cooperative river water management and remains committed to addressing shared water issues through bilateral discussions and technical cooperation.