China shares with India information on Brahmaputra landslide

NEW DELHI: China has informed India about landslide in common trans-border river Yaluzangbu or Brahmaputra and activated the Emergency Information Sharing Mechanism to share hydrological data on an hourly basis.

"On the early morning of October 17th, a landslide took place near Jiala Village in Milin County in the lower ranges of Yaluzangbu River in Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The river was blocked, and a barrier lake was formed. After the incident happened, Ministry of Water Resources of China informed the Indian side immediately and activated the Emergency Information Sharing Mechanism," a Chinese official told ET.

"On 17 October 2018, the Chinese side informed us about a landslide blocking the main stream of Yarlung Zangbo/Brahmaputra River in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Based on the information provided, all relevant authorities of the Central Government and concerned State Governments have been apprised about the emerging situation to enable them to take necessary precautionary measures in this regard. We are in regular contact with the Chinese side for further updates," MEA stated in its response.


"According to the instruction from Ministry of Water Resources of China to inform India the hydrological information of the Yaluzangbu River at emergency, the Hydrological Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region of China has begun to share with the Indian side hydrological information every hour, such as the water level and flow rate at the Nuxia hydrological station and the temporary hydrological station downstream of the barrier lake," the Chinese official informed.

The Chinese side will closely monitor situation of the barrier lake, and continue to notify the Indian side the follow-up developments through bilaterally agreed channels timely.

"The Chinese side has been keepingclose communication with the Indian side on Yaluzangbu River hydrological information this time, reflecting another positive gesture of implementing the Wuhan consensus between our two leaders. In April this year, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modiji reached important consensus on promoting China-India all-round cooperation during the informal summit in Wuhan. In June, the two leaders met on the sidelines of SCO Qingdao Summit, and witnessed the signing of the MoU concerning cross-border river cooperation," noted the Chinese official