Bengal shifts 12,000 people to safety, Assam monitors situation as GLOF hits adjoining Bhutan

Guwahati: West Bengal shifted 12,000 people living along the Sankosh in Alipurduar district to safety, while Assam closely monitored the situation in vulnerable areas of Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts after the river's water level rose following a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in adjoining Bhutan, officials said.

Water level in the Sankosh, which forms the inter-state boundary between Assam and West Bengal, rose by nearly two feet since this morning after a glacial lake in Bhutan's Gasa region burst its banks on Thursday evening, unleashing a massive volume of water mixed with mud, rocks and debris into the downstream river systems, they said.

Nearly 7.4 million cubic metres of water surged out of the breached Shintaphu Lake in Bhutan into the Mo River, causing an increase in Sankosh's water level.


Read more: Bhutan glacial lake outburst flood triggers alert in North Bengal; thousands relocated, disaster response teams deployed

"We have shifted 12,000 people to safer areas as a precautionary measure. The situation is under control at present," an Alipurduar district official told PTI.

The incident triggered flood alerts in parts of north Bengal and Assam, with authorities keeping a close watch on the water levels of rivers flowing down from the Himalayan kingdom.

Sikkim, which witnessed massive devastation and loss of many lives in a glacial lake outburst flood in October 2023, however, remained unaffected in this disaster.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have been deployed in the affected areas in Alipurduar, while teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Civil Defence and local administration are also being mobilised to strengthen the emergency response, the official said.

Read more: Bhutan GLOF washes away Gasa hot spring complex, damages highway; assessment underway

"We are closely monitoring the water level and flow of the Sankosh River, while maintaining communication with officials in Bhutan to assess developments and obtain updates on the situation," he said.

There have been no reports of major damage or casualties in the Sankosh-adjoining Kumargram area of Alipurduar so far, he added.

Bhutan-originating rivers flowing through Jalpaiguri district, on the other hand, did not witness any water surge owing to the GLOF, another official said.

Block officials made precautionary announcements through public address systems at Banarhat on Thursday night following the GLOF alert as Bhutan-originating rivers flow through the area, prompting some people living near the rivers to shift to safer places.

"There has been no impact of the GLOF on the rivers flowing through Jalpaiguri," the district official said.

Alerts were sounded in Binnaguri, Banarhat and Nagrakata areas as the Kaljani, Torsha, Raidak, Diana and Sankosh rivers flow from Bhutan into the district.

West Bengal Water Resources Investigation and Development Minister Nisith Pramanik has urged people living near the Sankosh to evacuate.

"Everyone living in the catchment areas of the Sankosh River and all its connected tributaries has been asked to move to safer locations immediately to protect their lives," Pramanik said in a video message.

He said the administration was prepared to deal with any eventuality, with teams of the SDRF and NDRF kept on alert for rescue and relief operations.

Meanwhile, the Assam government was closely monitoring the situation following the GLOF, with vulnerable areas in Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts put on alert over possible downstream effects, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday.

He urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert, follow official updates and cooperate with local authorities.

The Sankosh could be affected by floods, prompting authorities to step up vigilance, officials said.

"We are closely monitoring the possible impact of the glacial lake outburst in Bhutan across all vulnerable revenue circles of Dhubri and Kokrajhar," Sarma said in a social media post.

"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 added.

An Assam State Disaster Management Authority spokesperson said the district administrations and response forces were on alert to tackle any eventuality.

Another social media post by the CMO this evening said water levels in Dhubri and Kokrajhar remained steady following the GLOF.

"The district administrations are on high alert, with SDRF, NDRF, DDRF and Fire & Emergency Services teams kept ready for deployment. Officials are in constant touch with riverside communities, while 'Aapda Mitra' volunteers remain mobilised," it 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 in Bhutan's Punatsangchhu river basin.

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 districts, 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.