Opening Farakka Barrage gates a normal procedure during monsoon, says India

India's Ministry of External Affairs has clarified that the opening of all gates at the Farakka Barrage, allowing 1.1 million cusecs of water to flow into the Padma river system, is a "normal occurrence" during the monsoon. The decision has sparked debate on social media and in Bangladeshi media, particularly following unprecedented flooding in several districts. India has denied these claims, asserting that no gates at the Gomati Hydropower Station were opened. The Water Development Board Rajshahi zone chief engineer Mokhlesur Rahman said there has not yet been any noticeable impact on the Padma River in Bangladesh. Water Resources Secretary Nazmul Ahsan confirmed that the gates mentioned as being opened at Farakka were already open, as they usually are during the monsoon.