India has strongly refuted a recent report by CNN alleging its involvement in the severe flooding affecting Bangladesh. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, dismissed the report as misleading and factually incorrect. He asserted that India is not responsible for the floods and that the narrative presented by CNN ignores the facts clarified in press releases issued by the Indian government. Jaiswal emphasized the regular and timely exchange of data and information between India and Bangladesh through established mechanisms for water resources management, further debunking the allegations.
The CNN report had claimed that residents in Feni, Bangladesh, located near the India border, blamed India for releasing water from the Dumbur dam in Tripura state without prior warning. This, according to the report, contributed to the unexpected flooding.
However, the Indian government maintains that the floods were a direct result of heavy monsoon rains and not due to any actions taken by India. The situation in Bangladesh is dire, with the UN reporting that over 18 million people have been affected, leaving more than 1.2 million families stranded. The UNICEF has identified Chattogram and Sylhet as the worst-affected regions, where major rivers are overflowing their banks, exacerbating the situation. The floods have severely impacted the lives of millions, including an estimated two million children, who are facing food shortages and lack of relief. The Indian government continues to maintain its stance that the CNN report is inaccurate and that its actions are not responsible for the flooding in Bangladesh.
