Video from Andhra Pradesh shared as 'water released from Dumbur dam' in Tripura

What is the claim?

A video showing water flowing through a dam gate is circulating on social media, with claims that it depicts the Dumbur Dam in Tripura. This video is being used to suggest that the dam's opening caused a "flood-like situation" in eastern Bangladesh. 

A post on X (formerly Twitter) captioned the video: “India opens Dambur Dam, unleashing floodwaters into Bangladesh. Bangladesh is flooded caused by India. 'EVERYTHING WILL REMEMBER' #FloodInBangladesh #Bangladesh (sic).” Archived versions of this post and similar ones can be viewed here, here, and here.

The same video was also shared on Facebook with similar claims; archived versions can be found here and here.

Context

The video is being shared amid accusations from Dhaka that the Indian government is responsible for 'creating floods' in Bangladesh. Mohammad Nahid Islam, an adviser to Bangladesh's interim government, had alleged that India opened the sluice gates of the Dumbur Dam, located upstream of the Gumti River in Tripura, without warning. 

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed these allegations, stating that the Dumbur Dam is 120 kilometers from the border and attributing the floods in Bangladesh to heavy rainfall, not the dam's gates.

However, the video in question shows the Srisailam Dam, located on the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh, southern India. It has no connection to Tripura or the floods in Bangladesh.

What are the facts?

A reverse image search of the viral video led to a YouTube (archived here) upload from August 6, 2024, which features the same visuals as the viral clip. The YouTube video is captioned “Srisailam dam view full of water.”

Comparison between the viral clip and the YouTube video.(Source: X/YouTube/Screenshot)

A Google search led us to a report by The Hindu dated August 3, 2024, which stated that the opening of ten gates at the Srisailam Dam drew many visitors, including those from Telangana. The report noted that the dam released water downstream to Nagarjunasagar, with the upper Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers in spate. It also featured an image of the reservoir that matches the one seen in the viral clip.

The New Indian Express also covered this event, noting that the gates were closed on August 12 as inflows diminished.

Furthermore, we also geolocated Srisailam Dam on Google Maps. The surrounding area and the reservoir's structure match those in the viral clip, confirming that it is not Dumbur Dam in Tripura.

Comparison between the viral clip and Google Maps.(Source: X/Google Maps/Screenshot)

The verdict

A video showing water being released from the Srisailam Dam in Andhra Pradesh has been falsely identified as footage of the Dumbur Dam in Tripura.