A glacial lake outburst flood in Bhutan has triggered flash flood alerts in West Bengal and Assam, with authorities monitoring vulnerable riverbank areas….reports Asian Lite News Desk
A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in northwestern Bhutan has triggered flash flood warnings in parts of West Bengal and Assam, prompting authorities to monitor vulnerable areas along rivers flowing towards the two Indian states. The incident occurred on Thursday evening at Shintaphu Lake in Bhutan’s Gasa district, damaging infrastructure and raising concerns about potential flooding downstream.
The floodwaters swept through Gasa Tshachu, a popular natural hot spring near the Mo Chhu River, washing away infrastructure in the area. No casualties have been reported, as the site had been evacuated before the floodwaters arrived.
Shintaphu Lake, located at the source of the Mo Chhu River, is among 17 glacial lakes in Bhutan identified as potentially dangerous. Gasa Tshachu had previously suffered extensive damage during a flash flood on 26 August 2021, when the swollen Mo Chhu changed its course towards the hot spring.
According to reports, the floodwaters have crossed Srigang in Kabesa Gewog, around eight kilometres from Punakha Dzong, prompting concerns over areas further downstream.
Bhutan has alerted the administrations of West Bengal and Assam about the potential threat to districts bordering the Himalayan kingdom. Assam’s Dhubri district and West Bengal’s Darjeeling hills, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri have been identified as vulnerable areas.
In West Bengal, the Cooch Behar administration has also issued alerts for residents living along the banks of the Sankosh River. Originating in northern Bhutan, the river forms part of a wider river network that carries water from the Himalayan region towards the Brahmaputra in Assam.
Authorities have urged people living in vulnerable locations to remain cautious while assuring them that precautionary measures are being taken.
Amit Kumar Shaw, Superintendent of Police of the Alipurduar Police District, appealed to residents not to panic, saying the administration and emergency agencies were monitoring the situation.
“People are slightly in panic, and my appeal to everyone is that there is no need to panic in any way. We are in alert mode, the administration is fully prompt, and all agencies are actively working, so there is no issue. We hope that within two to three hours, we will reach a resolution and address whatever trouble the public is facing,” Shaw told IANS on Thursday.
Flood damages infrastructure in Bhutan
The outburst has also affected infrastructure in Bhutan. An official press release said a solar-powered irrigation lifting system installed earlier this year in the Dochhukha-Dzomlingthang-Ritsa Chiwog area under Guma Gewog in Punakha had been partially damaged by the surge in the Mo Chhu River.
A local leader said the irrigation system had stopped functioning, although officials were yet to establish the full extent of the damage.
Flood-borne debris has also covered a section of the Punakha-Gasa Highway in the Dzomlingthang area, raising concerns about road connectivity.
A glacial lake outburst flood occurs when water accumulated in a lake formed by glacial retreat is suddenly released, often following the failure of a natural dam. Such events can be triggered by heavy rainfall, landslides, avalanches, earthquakes or rapid glacier melting.
Rising temperatures linked to human-induced climate change are accelerating glacier retreat and increasing concerns about the stability of glacial lakes. Sudden releases of water can produce powerful flood surges, threatening downstream communities, infrastructure and agricultural land.
Authorities in the affected Indian states are continuing to monitor the situation and have urged residents in vulnerable areas to follow official advisories.
