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Due to excessive precipitation, India finally opened the Dam of Dumbur hydroelectric project on Tripura's Gumti River after 31 years. Most people claimed this was the cause of Bangladesh's severe flooding. Severe flooding occurred in Feni as a result of floodwaters entering from upstream due to the heavy rainfall. Severe flooding occurred in Bangladesh's northeast just two months ago, and it is currently happening in the southeast.
The distinction between embankments and dams is frequently unclear to the general public. In order to store water, dams are built across rivers, and barriers are built to prevent overflow.
We also have a dam in Chittagong across Kaptai that is similar to the Dumbur dam. When the monsoon arrives, water is poured into the dams, and the more water that is retained, the more energy is generated.
Because this dam prevents flooding and produces hydropower, Cumilla has not experienced any flooding in about 30 years. As a result, there were no floods in the downstream regions of Tripura and Cumilla for a while. A large portion of Feni, Noakhali, Cumilla, Habiganj, and Moulavibazar, as well as some regions of Brahmanbaria and Chattogram, have been drowned underwater due to the flood.
As per reports, more than three million people are left stuck in eight districts that have experienced flooding, with Feni and Noakhali being the districts that have been most affected.
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denied that the floods in Bangladesh were brought on by the discharge of water from an Indian dam on the Gumti River in Tripura, stating in a national newspaper that "That has not caused the flood situation in Eastern Bangladesh."
Tripura-based media outlets Borak Times and Tripura Times reported that the authorities reopened the sluice gates of Dumbur Reservoir after nearly 31 years. Local officials claimed that the reason the sluice gate was opened earlier was because they were concerned about the worst-case scenario in the event that the dam collapsed.
Experts assert that because the dam is located in the Gomti river basin, floods cannot occur in the Feni, Noakhali, or Chittagong hill regions. The naturally occurring depression in the Bay of Bengal is what caused the 300 mm of downpours that fell on Tripura.
India claims that Bangladesh nearly obtains 40MW of power from this system through a low-lying, power-generating dam that is about 30 meters high.
Since Tripura and the surrounding regions of Bangladesh have been experiencing days-long heavy rain, automated releases have been seen in case of an overflow.
The three upazilas in the north of Feni, Phulgazi, Parashuram, and Chagalnaya, have their streets and homes swamped in water. Sadar Upazila, Sonagazi, too, had numerous flooded villages.
The water levels in the rivers Muhuri, Kahua, and Ceylonia are 100 cm above the border. The local government and a number of volunteer groups have already started providing flood victims with relief aid and financial assistance.