New Delhi: Residents living along the Sankosh River near the Assam and West Bengal border were gripped by fears of flooding on Thursday evening following reports of a glacial lake outburst flood at Bhutan’s Shintaphu Lake. However, authorities in Assam have confirmed that vulnerable areas remain safe, with no flooding or waterlogging reported.
The incident triggered concern in several localities, including Surendrapur, Khokchaguri, Ghaksa, Jaraguri, Borogopa and Bagmara Tapu in Assam. In neighbouring West Bengal, residents living along the river, including those in Kumargram, were evacuated to safer locations as a precautionary measure.
Kokrajhar District Commissioner Pankaj Chakravarty visited areas near the Sankosh River on Friday, accompanied by former MLA Jiron Basumatary, to assess the situation and review the potential impact on nearby settlements.
The district commissioner said the water level had risen slightly following the incident in Bhutan but maintained that the situation in Assam remained under control. He added that no flooding or water accumulation had been reported in vulnerable areas and that authorities were not anticipating flooding at present.
The incident has renewed attention on the risks posed by glacial lakes in the Himalayan region, where sudden releases of water can cause flash floods downstream and threaten settlements located near rivers.
Shintaphu Lake, situated at the source of Bhutan’s Mo Chhu River, is among the country’s 17 potentially dangerous glacial lakes. Such lakes can pose a significant risk when water is suddenly released because of changes in glacial conditions or the failure of natural barriers.
The region has experienced damaging flood events in the past. On August 26, 2021, the Gasa Tshachu hot spring in Bhutan was washed away by a major flash flood after the swollen Mo Chhu River changed its course towards the site.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation along the Sankosh River as residents remain concerned about possible downstream impacts. The latest assessment, however, indicates that vulnerable areas in Assam have not experienced flooding following the reported incident in Bhutan.
