Bhutan Glacial Lake Outburst Damages Irrigation Project
A glacial lake outburst in Bhutan triggered flash flooding, damaged a solar-powered irrigation system and deposited debris on the Punakha-Gasa Highway. The supplied account recorded no casualties in Bhutan.
The outburst occurred on Thursday evening at Shintaphu Lake, also called Shintaphu Tsho, below Wakila Mountain in Gasa district. Water from the lake drains into the Mo Chhu, within the Punatsangchhu river basin. The river is known as the Sankosh after entering India.
In Punakha, the Solar Irrigation Lifting System serving Dochhukha-Dzomlingthang-Ritsa Chiwog stopped functioning after sustaining partial damage. The project had been installed earlier this year to address local water supply difficulties. Its full damage assessment remained pending.
Assam And Bengal Issue Downstream Flood Alerts
A special Indian advisory warned of a possible sudden rise in the Sankosh River, prompting alerts in Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Darjeeling in West Bengal, along with Dhubri in Assam.
Disaster response arrangements were activated in vulnerable areas, including Tufanganj and Boxirhat in Cooch Behar. Officials urged riverside communities to remain alert and follow evacuation instructions.
Earlier estimates suggested floodwater could reach the India-Bhutan border within six to eight hours. Those estimates described the initial threat; subsequent information indicated that the water flow had eased slightly.
Thousands Moved To Shelters In Alipurduar
Alipurduar Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar Shaw said the situation was under control and appealed to residents to avoid panic. Authorities remained in contact with Bhutan and continued monitoring the river.
Shaw said approximately 4,000–5,000 people had entered shelters, while more than 6,000 people had been relocated to safe areas. These figures were presented separately and should not be combined without clarification.
Kumargram block authorities identified 18 flood shelters, including schools, community halls, religious institutions and tea garden facilities. Dry food, drinking water and toilet facilities were arranged.
Sankosh River Red Alert Remains In Effect
The supplied update said residents in the affected Indian areas were safe after the initial flood passage. However, the Sankosh river system remained under a red alert, with officials warning that flowing water could carry wood, concrete debris and dead fish.
A glacial lake outburst flood occurs when water held in a glacier-fed lake escapes suddenly after its natural barrier fails or is breached. Such surges can move rapidly through valleys, threatening settlements, roads and farmland downstream.
