KOLKATA: A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) from Shintaphu Lake in Bhutan’s northwestern Gasa district has triggered flash-flood warnings in parts of India’s West Bengal and Assam.
The flood occurred on Thursday evening, washing away infrastructure and facilities at Gasa Tshachu, a popular natural hot spring situated along the Mo Chhu River in Gasa. No casualties have been reported, as the area had been evacuated before the flooding.
Shintaphu Lake, located at the headwaters of the Mo Chhu River, is among Bhutan’s 17 glacial lakes identified as potentially dangerous. Gasa Tshachu was previously destroyed by a major flash flood on August 26, 2021, when the swollen Mo Chhu changed its course towards the hot spring.
Floodwaters have reportedly reached Srigang in Kabesa Gewog, around eight kilometres from Punakha Dzong. Bhutan has alerted authorities in West Bengal and Assam as several areas downstream face potential flooding.
In Assam, Dhubri district is among the areas at risk, while in West Bengal, the Darjeeling hills, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri have been placed under alert. Authorities in Cooch Behar have also cautioned residents living along the Sankosh River to remain vigilant.
The Sankosh originates in northern Bhutan and receives water from major tributaries, including the Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu, before eventually joining the Brahmaputra River in Assam.
Amit Kumar Shaw, Superintendent of Police of West Bengal’s Alipurduar Police District, urged residents not to panic, saying that authorities and relevant agencies were closely monitoring the situation and responding to emerging concerns.
Damage to Bhutan’s Solar Irrigation Project
The flash flood has also damaged a solar-powered irrigation lifting system installed earlier this year in the Dochhukha-Dzomlingthang-Ritsa Chiwog area under Guma Gewog in Punakha.
According to an official statement, the system was established to address local irrigation challenges but has partially suffered damage from the overflowing Mo Chhu River. A local leader confirmed that the system had stopped functioning, although the full extent of the damage was still being assessed.
Flood-borne debris has also covered part of the Punakha-Gasa Highway in the Dzomlingthang area, potentially disrupting transportation.
What Is a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood?
A glacial lake outburst flood occurs when a large volume of water stored in a glacial lake is suddenly released following the failure of its natural dam. Such lakes commonly develop as glaciers retreat or thin, leaving water accumulated behind unstable deposits of ice, rocks and sediment.
Rising temperatures associated with climate change are accelerating glacier retreat and contributing to the formation and expansion of glacial lakes. The sudden failure of natural dams can be triggered by heavy rainfall, landslides, avalanches, earthquakes or rapid snow and glacier melt.
GLOFs can generate powerful downstream floods, causing extensive damage to settlements, infrastructure, hydropower facilities, agricultural land and ecosystems. Their impacts can extend across national borders, making regional cooperation, early warning systems and coordinated disaster preparedness essential for vulnerable Himalayan countries.
(Source: NDTV)
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