A glacial lake outburst in Bhutan has prompted West Bengal authorities to move 12,000 people living along the Sankosh river in Alipurduar district to safer locations, while Assam placed vulnerable areas of Dhubri and Kokrajhar on alert over possible downstream flooding.
The Sankosh, which forms part of the inter-state boundary between Assam and West Bengal, rose by nearly two feet on Friday after the Shintaphu Lake in Bhutan’s Gasa region burst its banks on Thursday evening. Officials said around 7.4 million cubic metres of water surged from the breached lake into the Mo River, carrying mud, rocks and debris into downstream river systems.
An Alipurduar district official said the evacuation was a precautionary measure and that the situation was under control. National Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed in the affected areas, while State Disaster Response Force teams, Civil Defence personnel and the local administration have been mobilised for emergency response.
There were no reports of major damage or casualties in the Sankosh-adjoining Kumargram area of Alipurduar, the official said. Authorities have continued monitoring the water level and flow of the river while maintaining communication with officials in Bhutan for updates on the outburst and its downstream effects.
The alert also covered several areas of north Bengal because rivers flowing from Bhutan pass through the region. Officials issued precautionary announcements in Banarhat on Thursday night, leading some residents living close to rivers to move to safer places. However, a Jalpaiguri district official said the Kaljani, Torsha, Raidak, Diana and Sankosh rivers in the district had not recorded any surge linked to the outburst. Alerts were sounded in Binnaguri, Banarhat and Nagrakata.
West Bengal water resources investigation and development minister Nisith Pramanik urged residents in the Sankosh catchment and along connected tributaries to evacuate immediately. He said SDRF and NDRF teams were on alert for rescue and relief operations.
In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said vulnerable revenue circles in Dhubri and Kokrajhar were being monitored for possible effects. He asked residents to follow official updates and cooperate with local authorities. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority said district administrations and response forces were ready to respond, while the state government reported that water levels in Dhubri and Kokrajhar remained steady. SDRF, NDRF, District Disaster Response Force, Fire and Emergency Services teams and Aapda Mitra volunteers were kept ready.
A special advisory issued by the Ministry of Jal Shakti said the Indian Embassy had reported the glacial lake outburst in Shintaphu Lake in Bhutan’s Punatsangchhu river basin. It warned that water levels in the Sankosh could rise suddenly in Assam’s Dhubri and West Bengal’s Alipurduar districts, and advised local authorities to remain alert, monitor river conditions closely and take precautionary measures.
