Morningsun Online //

India did not warn Bangladesh before opening the Dambur hydropower project in the Indian state of Tripura. After 31 years, one of the three dams or gates of the Dumbur hydropower project was opened on Wednesday (August 21) morning.

Due to the opening of this dam, the water of Gomti and Feni rivers has suddenly increased. As a result, flash floods have occurred in the villages along the river. Many are leaving their homes in fear of waterlogging. However, after a long time, no information about the opening of the dam has come to the flood forecasting and warning center of Bangladesh from India.

Uday Rayahan, Executive Engineer of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center, told a national media on Wednesday (August 21) afternoon that the information about the increase in water upstream comes to us. However, no information has come to us that Dumbar Dam has been opened. We have started the operation after receiving the news of rising water upstream.
Comilla, Noakhali and Feni submerged in heavy rains

Hundreds of thousands of residents of Comilla, Noakhali and Feni are becoming waterlogged due to continuous rains and landslides from upstream. Thousands of hectares of cropland, fish enclosures were submerged in water. Hundreds of thousands of people in three districts have suffered greatly.

According to local sources, there is a risk of flooding due to the increase of water in Gomti river in Comilla due to rain and torrential water. Around 4,000 hectares of cropland has already been submerged in water. Since last night, rain and torrential water has been increasing continuously. The water of the river is below the danger level till this morning, but the local residents are afraid that it will soon overflow the banks.

Some residents of Gomti Par said that they have not seen so much water in the river in the last 10 years. Thousands of families in the Char region have taken shelter in the dam due to rising water. Syed Arifur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Comilla Meteorological Office, said that 79 millimeters of rainfall has been recorded in the district from 12 noon on Tuesday to 12 noon on Wednesday. More rain is likely in the next 72 hours.

In all the nine upazilas in Noakhali district, houses, rural roads and educational institutions have been submerged in flood water. Millions of people are getting stuck in water. This has caused fear of flood among people. The local people want the army’s help in rescuing the canal and draining the water.

A week of continuous heavy rain has caused waterlogging in the entire Noakhali district. Most of the low-lying areas of Sadar, Senbagh, Sonaimuri, Chatkhil, Begumganj, Kabirhat, Companyganj, Subarnachar upazilas of the district have been flooded. The residents of these upazilas have suffered endlessly. Aman paddy seeds, vegetables have been drowned in rain water.

Besides, due to high water in the fields, farmers in many areas are not able to plant crops. 2 million people are stuck in the flood. Roads are submerged, water is also entering houses. The people of Noakhali have to suffer due to long-term widespread flooding due to poor drainage system. The water-logged people demanded to take effective steps to resolve the flood quickly with the help of the army.

Incessant rains and hill slopes coming down from upstream have flooded the lower areas of the area by entering through 11 broken dams of Ceyloniya, Muhuri and Kahua rivers in Phulgazi and Parashuram upazilas of Feni. So far, 70 villages of the two upazilas have been inundated when water entered through 11 broken dams in several areas including Dakshin Shaldhar of Parashuram, Daulatpur of Fulgazi, Nilkshi, Kismat Ghaniamora of the district. In this, cropland and fish enclosures are submerged in flood water.

Parashuram Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Afroja Habib Shapla said that 1400 families have become waterlogged due to water entering the locality due to the dam breaking in the village of Dakshin Shaldhar of Parashuram Upazila. In Phulgazi and Parashuram upazilas of Feni, water entered through 11 broken dams of Ceylonia, Muhuri and Kahua rivers and flooded the lower areas of the area.

It is known that severe floods have occurred in the Indian state of Tripura after several days of continuous rain. Seven people have been reported killed so far. Two others are missing. Due to the flood, the authorities have opened the dam of the Dambur hydroelectric project. As a result, water is entering Bangladesh.

The gates of Dumbar reservoir were last opened in 1993. It was opened again in 2024. It has been raining heavily in Sadar Dharmanagar of Tripura North district for three days since last Monday afternoon. Various areas of Dharmanagar city have become submerged due to this rain. Especially bigha after bigha of India-Bangladesh border has gone under water due to inundation. Farmers in the area have lost their hands.

On Wednesday afternoon, the water of Gomti river in Comilla is flowing over Bipatseema. It has caused flash floods in the villages along the river. Many are leaving their homes in fear of waterlogging. It has been informed by the administration that the matter has been kept under observation whether the dam is being damaged anywhere.

On the other hand, heavy rains and inundation from India have flooded most areas of Kakari River in the bordering Chauddagram upazila. Millions of people there are trapped in water. The villages along the Dakatia river in the southern part of Nangalkot upazila have been waterlogged for 2 days today. In King Bajehura village of Burichong upazila on the banks of river Gomti, 500 families have been stuck in water since Tuesday evening. Hundreds of families were inundated by sudden flood in Chanpur area of ​​Sadar Upazila.

According to local sources, more than 1500 families along the banks of Gomti river have been affected. The link road of the village has been broken by the current. Agricultural land is submerged in the water.