Glacial Lake Outburst in Bhutan Triggers Flood Alerts in Assam and Bengal
A glacial lake outburst in Bhutan has led to significant damage and prompted evacuation warnings in five districts of Assam and West Bengal.
A glacial lake outburst in Bhutan has damaged an irrigation project and blocked a highway.
Flood alerts have been issued for five districts in Assam and West Bengal due to rising water levels in the Sankosh River.
Authorities have evacuated over 4,000 residents to safety as they monitor the situation closely.
A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) occurred on Thursday evening at Shintaphu Lake in Bhutan's Gasa district, causing significant damage to local infrastructure, including a solar-powered irrigation project. The outburst has raised alarms downstream, prompting authorities in Assam and West Bengal to issue flood alerts as they monitor the Sankosh River for potential surges in water levels.
The Shintaphu Lake, known for being one of Bhutan's 17 potentially hazardous glacial lakes, overflowed, leading to debris blocking a section of the Punakha-Gasa Highway. Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties. Local leaders noted that the irrigation system, which was installed to alleviate water supply issues earlier this year, has ceased functioning due to the flood's impact.
In response to the outburst, the Indian government issued advisories warning of a possible rapid increase in water levels along the Sankosh River, which flows from Bhutan into India. Flood alerts were specifically issued for Alipurduar in West Bengal and Dhubri in Assam, with additional warnings extending to North Bengal regions, including Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri. Emergency teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed to assist in monitoring and evacuation efforts.
West Bengal's Forest Minister, Manoj Kumar Oraon, urged residents living near the Sankosh River to evacuate to safer areas, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. He warned that rising water levels could reach Kumargram within 90 minutes. Meanwhile, BJP MP Raju Bista echoed these concerns, advising residents in the catchment areas to seek safety immediately as water from the GLOF moves downstream.
As of now, all residents in the affected Indian districts are reported safe, with over 4,000 individuals relocated to shelters. Authorities have assured the public that the situation is under control, although a red alert remains in effect for the Sankosh river system. Emergency services are prepared with provisions for food and water as they continue to monitor the water flow and assess any further risks to local communities.
