BHUTAN, OCT 30 : A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in Bhutan has triggered a high flood alert in parts of northern West Bengal, prompting authorities to evacuate residents from vulnerable areas along the Sankosh river and its tributaries, officials said on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Residents of riverbank villages in Alipurduar district were seen leaving their homes with cattle following evacuation orders issued by the administration late Thursday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Water Resources Investigation and Development Minister Nisith Pramanik said the outburst occurred at Shintaphu Lake in Bhutan’s Lemthang region, sending a massive volume of water into the Mo (Mofu) river, which flows into the Sankosh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nearly 7.4 million cubic metres of water reportedly surged out of the breached lake, raising fears of a sudden rise in the Sankosh’s water level along the West Bengal-Assam border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Everyone living in the catchment areas of the Sankosh river and all its connected tributaries has been asked to move to a safe distance immediately to protect their lives,” Pramanik said in a video message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also urged residents living near riverbeds in Tufanganj and adjoining areas of Cooch Behar district to move to safer locations immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The administration has deployed loudspeaker announcements in riverbank settlements under the Rampur-I gram panchayat, asking residents to leave their homes and move to designated shelters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Officials said the flood surge could reach border areas within six to eight hours, potentially inundating vulnerable settlements in West Bengal and Assam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been kept on alert for rescue and relief operations, Pramanik said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also forecast heavy rainfall in Alipurduar on Friday, raising concerns that additional rainfall could worsen the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The development has also raised concerns over the Punatsangchhu hydropower project, a major India-Bhutan joint venture, as a sharp rise in river levels could pose risks to hydropower infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an advisory issued on Thursday, the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti said the Indian Embassy had reported a GLOF in Shintaphu Lake in Bhutan’s Punatsangchhu river basin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Citing reports of flash floods in the river’s upper reaches, the ministry warned that water levels in the Sankosh could rise suddenly in Assam’s Dhubri and West Bengal’s Alipurduar districts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, the Assam government said it was closely monitoring the situation, with Dhubri district placed on alert over possible downstream effects of the GLOF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Sankosh river, which flows through Dhubri, could witness a sudden rise in water levels, prompting the district administration and disaster response teams to step up vigilance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The situation arising out of the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood in Bhutan is being closely monitored by HCM Dr @himantabiswa,” the Chief Minister’s Office said in a social media post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Team @dcofficedhubri is on ground and prepared to effectively deal with the downstream effects,” it added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An Assam State Disaster Management Authority spokesperson said the Sankosh river’s water level was steady as of 6.30 am on Friday, while the district administration and response forces remained on alert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Authorities in both districts have been asked to remain on alert, closely monitor river levels and take necessary precautionary measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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