NEW DELHI: A glacial lake outburst in Bhutan has triggered a flash flood, sending large volumes of water downstream through the Mo Chhu river towards the Sankosh river and prompting authorities in West Bengal to sound a high alert across North Bengal. More than 10,000 people have been moved to shelters and safer locations as disaster response teams prepare for possible flooding.The flood has washed away infrastructure at the Gasa Tshachu natural hot springs in Bhutan's Gasa district. No injuries or loss of life have been reported, state broadcaster Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) said on Friday.The late-night flood damaged infrastructure at the popular tourist destination, although the full extent of the destruction remained unclear. BBS said the assessment was hampered by “darkness and the strong flow” of floodwaters. Two Bailey bridges, built using portable, prefabricated sections, may also have been washed away.According to Bhutan's national newspaper Kuensel, parts of the road leading to Laya village, where the hot springs are located, were washed away, making the route impassable. The road has been closed to traffic indefinitely. The area was evacuated…
Glacial lake outburst in Bhutan: North Bengal on red alert as flood threat looms
In short
The emergency was triggered by a late-night glacial lake outburst at Lemthang in Bhutan that sent torrents of water rushing toward vulnerable river basins. West Bengal authorities responded by activating state disaster management mechanisms, sheltering thousands of displaced residents in local school buildings. Downstream communities in the Darjeeling hills, Terai, and Dooars remain under strict warnings to avoid rising waterways. Meanwhile, officials in Alipurduar confirm that local conditions remain under control as water levels are monitored closely.
Key points
- Disaster management teams and National Disaster Response Force personnel are actively mon…: Disaster management teams and National Disaster Response Force personnel are actively monitoring the plains for imminent surges.
- Residents across the Darjeeling hills, Terai, Dooars, and Sankosh catchment must stay far…: Residents across the Darjeeling hills, Terai, Dooars, and Sankosh catchment must stay far away from active waterways.
- Continuous coordination between local Indian district teams and Bhutanese authorities has…: Continuous coordination between local Indian district teams and Bhutanese authorities has kept the cross-border situation under control.