India opens 109 gates of Farakka

India has opened 109 gates of the Farakka Barrage due to flooding in Bihar and Jharkhand. The gates were opened on Monday, allowing 1.1 million cusecs of water to flow into Bangladesh in a single day. 

The release of water has raised concerns of flooding in Bangladesh and Murshidabad district of West Bengal. However, Indian authorities have claimed that they have been providing Bangladesh with prior information about the flood situation and the surge of water from the mountains, reports News18.

On Monday, the barrage authorities stated that the rising water pressure, caused by flooding in the neighbouring states, forced them to open the gates. 

Water in the Farakka Barrage area is currently flowing 77.34 meters above the danger level, compelling the authorities to take this step.