Bhutan Glacial Lake Outburst Triggers Flash Flood Warning for Bengal and Assam

Thimphu, Bhutan: A glacial lake outburst at Shintaphu Lake in northwestern Bhutan has triggered flash-flood warnings across neighbouring Indian states.

The incident occurred Thursday evening in Gasa district, sending floodwaters downstream along the Mo Chhu River towards vulnerable settlements. The sudden surge completely destroyed facilities at Gasa Tshachu, a popular natural hot spring near the riverbank. Authorities evacuated the area beforehand, preventing casualties despite the extensive damage caused by the powerful floodwaters. Shintaphu Lake, located at the source of the Mo Chhu River, ranks among Bhutan’s 17 potentially dangerous glacial lakes. Gasa Tshachu previously suffered similar destruction on August 26, 2021, when flooding forced the Mo Chhu River to change course.

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Flood Threatens Border Districts as Infrastructure Suffers Damage

Floodwaters have crossed Srigang in Kabesa Gewog, approximately eight kilometres from the historic Punakha Dzong. Bhutanese authorities have alerted West Bengal and Assam, warning officials about potential flooding across districts bordering Bhutan. Authorities have identified Assam’s Dhubri district and West Bengal’s Darjeeling hills, Alipurduar, and Jalpaiguri as vulnerable areas. In Cooch Behar, West Bengal, officials have warned residents living along the banks of the Sankosh River. The river originates in northern Bhutan, receives water from major tributaries, and eventually flows into Assam’s Brahmaputra River. Alipurduar Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar Shaw urged residents to remain calm while authorities coordinate emergency response measures.

He confirmed that officials had activated emergency preparedness measures and expected to address immediate difficulties within two to three hours. Meanwhile, flooding partially damaged a solar-powered irrigation system serving Dochhukha-Dzomlingthang-Ritsa Chiwog under Guma Gewog in Punakha. An official release confirmed the damage, while local leaders reported that the system had stopped functioning completely. Flood debris has also blocked part of the Punakha-Gasa Highway near Dzomlingthang, disrupting transportation through the affected region. Glacial lake outburst floods occur when water accumulated behind unstable natural dams suddenly escapes, releasing destructive surges downstream. Climate change accelerates glacier retreat, expanding some glacial lakes and increasing risks associated with unstable ice and rock barriers. Heavy rainfall, landslides, avalanches, earthquakes, and rapid glacier melting can trigger these dangerous floods, threatening downstream communities.

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