Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said the state government was closely monitoring the possible impact of the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) reported in Bhutan across vulnerable revenue circles of Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts, with disaster response teams and other agencies kept on standby.
In a post shared on X, Sarma said the state government was maintaining close coordination with disaster response agencies and had asked residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert and follow official advisories.
"We are closely monitoring the possible impact of the glacial lake outburst in Bhutan across all vulnerable revenue circles of Dhubri and Kokrajhar. Our teams are also in constant contact with the NDRF and other agencies, and are ready to respond if needed. Residents are requested to stay alert, follow official updates and cooperate with local officials," he said.
We are closely monitoring the possible impact of the glacial lake outburst in Bhutan across all vulnerable revenue circles of Dhubri and Kokrajhar.Our teams are also in constant contact with the NDRF and other agencies, and are ready to respond if needed.Residents are requested to stay alert, follow official updates and cooperate with local officials.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Tourism Minister Dr Sankar Ghosh said the administration was on high alert and prepared to deal with any possible emergency following the reported glacial lake outburst in Bhutan. He added that no devastating incident had been reported in Alipurduar so far.Speaking in Siliguri, Ghosh said, "Precautionary advisories had already been issued to ensure public safety and that the administration was closely monitoring the situation."
Earlier, the Central Water Commission (CWC) had issued a special flood advisory for West Bengal and Assam following the reported GLOF at Shintaphu Lake in Bhutan's Gasa district, warning of a possible sudden rise in water levels in Alipurduar and Dhubri districts.
In its advisory dated October 29, the CWC said the outburst had been reported by the Indian Embassy in Bhutan and that a flash flood in the upper reaches of the Punatsangchhu River, known as the Sankosh in India, could lead to a sudden rise in water levels downstream.
The CWC advised local authorities in both districts along the Sankosh River to remain alert, closely monitor the situation and take necessary precautionary measures.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), no evacuation process had started so far in Dhubri and other districts of Lower Assam. However, district administrations and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams were prepared to respond to any emergency.
ASDMA also said that water levels in rivers across Assam had not increased so far and that the situation was being monitored.
The reported outburst at Sintaphu Lake in Bhutan has already caused significant damage in the Himalayan kingdom. According to Daily Bhutan, floodwaters washed away the Gasa Tshachu hot spring complex, located beside the Mo Chhu river in Gasa district.A section of the Punakha-Gasa Secondary National Highway near the 31.85-kilometre point was also completely washed away, forcing authorities to close the road to all traffic until further notice.
The reported outburst occurred on the evening of October 29 at Sintaphu Lake, near Wakila Mountain in Lungo, Laya Gewog, in Bhutan's northern Gasa district.
Floodwaters reached Taktsemakhang at around 8.15 pm on Thursday, damaging a section of the road towards Laya, one of Bhutan's most remote highland communities. Precautionary evacuations were carried out in potentially exposed locations, and warning sirens were activated. No deaths or injuries had been reported as of the morning of October 30, according to Daily Bhutan.
The water from Sintaphu Lake enters the Mo Chhu, which flows south through Gasa and Punakha. At Punakha, the Mo Chhu meets the Pho Chhu to form the Punatsangchhu, which later enters India as the Sankosh River.
Sintaphu is a high-altitude glacial lake at the headwaters of the Mo Chhu and features on Bhutan's official list of 17 potentially dangerous glacial lakes. Bhutanese specialists studied the lake between May and June 2023, including measurements of the main and upper lakes, surveys of the surrounding terrain and moraine barriers, and observations of the glacier feeding the lake, as reported by Daily Bhutan.
Monitoring equipment has also been installed in the area as part of Bhutan's efforts to strengthen surveillance and mitigate potential glacial flood risks.
A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) occurs when water stored in a glacial lake is suddenly released, often following a breach or weakening of its natural barriers, known as moraines. The resulting flood can travel rapidly through mountain valleys, carrying mud, rocks and debris and damaging roads, bridges, and settlements.
Authorities in Assam and West Bengal continue to monitor the situation, with residents in vulnerable areas urged to follow official advisories and take necessary precautions.