A flood caused by the Shintaphu glacial lake bursting its banks has washed away infrastructure at the Gasa Tshachu natural hot springs in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, media reports said on Friday.
Guwahati: The Assam government was closely monitoring the situation following a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in neighbouring Bhutan, with Dhubri district put on alert for possible downstream effects, officials said on Friday.
The Sankosh river, which flows through Dhubri district, could be affected by the flood, prompting authorities to step up vigilance and prepare for a possible rise in water levels, they said.
“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. “Team @dcofficedhubri is on ground and prepared to effectively deal with the downstream effects,” it added. An Assam State Disaster Management Authority spokesperson said the water level of the Sankosh river was steady as of 6.30 am.
The district administration and response forces were on alert to tackle any eventuality, he said. A special advisory issued by the Ministry of Jal Shakti on Thursday for Assam and West Bengal said the Indian Embassy had reported a GLOF in Shintaphu Lake, located in the Punatsangchhu river basin in Bhutan.
A flood caused by the Shintaphu glacial lake bursting its banks has washed away infrastructure at the Gasa Tshachu natural hot springs in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, media reports said on Friday.
The hot springs at Gasa Tshachu are a major tourist attraction in the northern part of the country that is nestled between India and China.
Following reports of flash floods in the river’s upper reaches, water levels in the Sankosh river in India could rise suddenly in Assam’s Dhubri and West Bengal’s Alipurduar district, the advisory said. Local authorities in the two districts have been advised to remain alert, closely monitor the situation and take necessary precautionary measures, it added.
“We have received information from that region. Prime Minister and the Home Minister have strict and clear directives to adopt a ‘Whole-of-Government Approach’. We are coordinating with all relevant agencies, including the Central Water Commission (CWC), the India Meteorological Department (IMD). We have placed some of our teams on alert; however, based on the information received so far, there is no cause for concern–though we remain on high alert,” said Piyush Anand,Director General, National Disaster Response Force Director General on Friday
BBS reported the extent of damage from the late night flash flood was not known because of “darkness and the strong flow” of floodwaters. Two bailey bridges — bridges built in portable, pre-fabricated sections — may have been washed away, the broadcaster reported.
Gasa Tshachu was also hit by a flash flood in 2021, when the Mochhu River changed course and swept through the area.
Kuensel, Bhutan’s national newspaper, said part of the road to Laya village where the springs are located had been washed away, making it impassable. The road has been closed for traffic indefinitely, the newspaper said.
The area had been evacuated before the flood reached the area, Kuensel reported.
In neighbouring Nepal, in a similar mountainous area about 600 km (370 miles) to the west, a flash flood on its border with China in August killed more than 1,500 people and left more than 5,000 missing.