Bangladesh may experienced fresh round of severe flood as India has opened gates of the Farakka Barrage to release over one million cusecs of water every day.
It is reported that India on Monday opened 109 gates of the barrage, located in the Malda and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal.
The action may lead to severe flooding in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Pabna, Sirajganj, Kushtia, Rajbari and Manikganj as about 1.1 million cusecs of water to flow in Bangladesh in a single day.
A highly placed source in the interim government said that the gates remained open for the last few days. But, flood-like situation in those areas has not yet arisen, said the source.
Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre executive engineer Sarder Udoy Raihan told the media that although India opened 109 gates of Farakkha Barrage, there is no possibility of flooding right now in Bangladesh.
“The water of the dam flows through the Ganges. The water in the river is now flowing below the danger level. We are not forecasting flooding right now,” he said.
A water expert and director of Riverine People Tuhin Wadud said, “Although the gates have been opened, there is no possibility of flood right now. But, there is a forecast that there may be heavy rain in Rajshahi region. If it happens, then there is a possibility of flood.”
Bangladesh is already experiencing a devastating flood and many districts have gone under water. Fresh areas are being engulfed following the collapse of embankments and dykes of the flood-hit districts.
Many express fear that if 1.1 million cusecs of water from India enter Bangladesh in a single day, various districts might be inundated.
Chapainawabganj Water Development Board sub-divisional engineer (In-charge) Moyez Uddin told reporters that they saw reports of opening 109 gates.
“As many as 27 gates were opened till Sunday. But, we saw reports today that 109gates were opened. There is a possibility of flood in the region due to the sudden opening of such a big number of gates at a time,” he said.
Indian media, citing local authorities, reported that failing to release the water could have caused severe damage to the barrage, necessitating the decision to open the gates.
Alipore Meteorological Department in Kolkata had previously issued a heavy rainfall forecast for West Bengal.
The forecast proved accurate, with two days of continuous heavy rain causing the water level of the Ganges River to rise and increasing pressure on the Farakka Barrage.
RD Deshpande, General Manager of the Farakka Barrage, stated that flooding in Bihar and Jharkhand has led to a rise in the Ganges River water level, prompting the opening of the 109 gates at the Farakka Barrage.
