Assam has stepped up flood monitoring across vulnerable revenue circles in Dhubri and Kokrajhar after a glacial lake outburst in Bhutan sent floodwaters down the Mo Chhu river towards the Sankosh, prompting a Central Water Commission advisory for Assam and West Bengal.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday that the state was closely monitoring the possible impact across the two districts. He said response teams were in constant contact with the National Disaster Response Force and other agencies and were ready to act if required.
“Residents are requested to stay alert, follow official updates and cooperate with local officials,” Sarma said, according to the report. West Bengal has issued a high alert across North Bengal as the floodwaters move through the river system connected to the Sankosh.
The outburst originated from Shintaphu Tsho in Laya, northern Bhutan, according to Bhutan’s national daily Kuensel. The floodwaters travelled down the Mo Chhu river on Friday night, damaging roads, bridges and public infrastructure in Gasa and Punakha. No casualties have been reported.
The flooding washed away facilities at Gasa Tshachu and damaged sections of the Punakha-Gasa Secondary National Highway and the Gasa-Laya road. A Bailey bridge in Punakha, built in 2022 with Indian support, was also swept away, the report said.
A large artificial lake has since formed near Taktsemakhang, raising concerns about the possibility of another sudden outburst. The available reports do not specify the volume of water involved, the projected timing of its arrival in Assam or the number of residents currently facing evacuation risk.
The incident highlights the exposure of downstream settlements and infrastructure to sudden water surges originating beyond state and national borders. Several rivers flow from Bhutan into Assam before joining the Brahmaputra, including the Manas–Beki, Aie, Sankosh, Raidak, Gaurang, Pagladiya, Dhansiri (North), Puthimari, Saralbhanga, Gangadhar and Gadadhar.
For Assam, the immediate response is focused on monitoring vulnerable revenue circles, maintaining communication with disaster-response agencies and issuing public advisories. The Central Water Commission’s flood advisory covers both Assam and West Bengal, while authorities in the affected areas continue to track the movement of water and possible impacts along the Sankosh system.
The Assam government has asked residents to remain alert, follow official updates and cooperate with local officials. The next operational milestone will be the authorities’ assessment of water levels and downstream conditions as the floodwaters move towards the Sankosh.
