Glacial Lake Outburst in Bhutan Triggers Flood Alerts in West Bengal and Assam

A glacial lake outburst in Bhutan has partially damaged a solar-powered irrigation project and triggered evacuation alerts for downstream areas in India. Special flood advisories have been issued for parts of West Bengal and Assam as authorities monitor the Sankosh River for potential water level fluctuations.

Incident Overview and Impact in Bhutan

A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) occurred on Thursday evening at Shintaphu Lake, also referred to as Shintaphu Tsho, situated below Wakila Mountain in Bhutan's Gasa district. The lake is positioned in the upper reaches of the Mo Chhu river basin and is listed among Bhutan's 17 potentially dangerous glacial lakes.

• The outburst partially damaged the Solar Irrigation Lifting System in Dochhukha-Dzomlingthang-Ritsa Chiwog under Guma Gewog in Punakha, rendering it non-functional.
• Debris from the flash flood blocked a section of the Punakha-Gasa Highway in the Dzomlingthang area.
• No casualties have been reported in Bhutan so far, and the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.

Flood Alerts Issued in West Bengal and Assam

Shintaphu Lake lies within the Punatsangchhu river basin, which becomes the Sankosh River after entering India. Following the outburst, the Government of India issued a special advisory warning of a possible sharp rise in water levels along the Sankosh River.

• Alerts were issued for Alipurduar and Dhubri districts, alongside parts of North Bengal including the Darjeeling hills, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar districts.
• NDRF and SDRF teams were deployed in Tufanganj and Boxirhat within Cooch Behar district near the Assam border.
• West Bengal Forest Minister and Kumargram MLA Manoj Kumar Oraon urged residents along the river to move to safer locations, while Darjeeling MP Raju Bista issued a public safety alert via social media.

Current Status and Safety Measures in India

According to Alipurduar Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar Shaw, the flash flood transition period has passed and all residents in the affected Indian areas are safe.

• Authorities reported that approximately 4,000 to 5,000 people were moved to shelters using school buildings, and over 6,000 people in total were relocated to safe areas as a precaution.
• The Kumargram block administration arranged 18 flood shelters across schools, community halls, religious institutions, and tea garden facilities.
• A red alert remains in effect for the Sankosh river system, with officials warning that the water flow may carry debris such as dead fish, wood, and concrete.

Residents and observers can verify original announcements through official channels of the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) in Bhutan and district disaster management authorities in West Bengal and Assam.