India has opened 109 gates of Farakka Dam amid severe flood situation in some eastern districts of Bangladesh. The dam was opened on Monday after heavy rains caused flooding and increased water pressure in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand. As a result, it is feared that floods may occur in large areas of Bangladesh, including Murshidabad in the Indian state of West Bengal.
India claimed that Bangladesh was being informed in advance about the flood situation and landslides caused by heavy rains. Quoting Farakka Dam project sources, the country’s media News18 says that due to heavy rains in Bihar and Jharkhand, the water level of the Farakka Dam project has increased. That is why all the gates of Farakka Dam have been opened to handle the water pressure. As a result, 11 lakh cusecs of water will enter Bangladesh in a day.
According to the report, the amount of water coming into the project has been released. In the Farakka Dam area, the water is flowing 77.34 meters above the coastal line. Excess water pressure has developed in Farakka Dam. As the water is more than the capacity, the authorities are forced to release it. Officials said, if the water is not released, there is a danger that the Farakka dam will be damaged.
The country’s media reported that daily water releases are increasing as the Farakka Dam project’s water exceeds the limit. Meanwhile, as a result of this water release, water from the Ganga is entering different areas of West Bengal. There is a threat of flood in Murshidabad district. Due to heavy rainfall in upper basin of Ganga including Bihar, Jharkhand, water in Ganga is rising suddenly.
Farakka Dam authorities say that there is water pressure in Farakka Dam due to floods in two neighboring states – Bihar, Jharkhand. But there is some relief that there is still some water coming down from the mountains of Nepal. The authorities were forced to open the gate as the water flowed 77.34 meters above the limit in the Farakka Dam area. The quantity of water in the feeder canal has also been increased.
Location of Farakka Dam on River Ganges in Murshidabad district of West Bengal, India. The construction of this dam started in 1962, about 18 km from the border of Bangladesh. The dam, built at a cost of about one billion US dollars, was completed in 1970. The operation of Farakka Dam officially started on 21 April 1975.