There has been a glacial lake outburst in Bhutan leading to the issuance of flash flood warnings in northern parts of West Bengal and Assam. This happened on Thursday evening, 29 October 2026 in Shintaphu Lake in the Gasa district of Bhutan.
Reports indicate that there was a discharge of 7.4 million cubic meters of water from the lake. The water moved through Mo Chhu River and then to the Sankosh River which flows through parts of the West Bengal-Assam border region. The government has warned that the rapid flow may have an impact on low lying areas, riverbanks and agricultural lands in the downstream areas. There is also a warning issued by the Central Water Commission that water levels can increase quickly in Alipurduar district in West Bengal and Dhubri district of Assam.
High alerts have been announced in vulnerable areas in the regions of Alipurduar and Cooch Behar in West Bengal. The local administrations are working on the relocation of the residents from the river bank areas. It has been reported that more than 10,000 individuals have been relocated to safe havens in Alipurduar. The rescue team members as well as the members of the SDRF and NDRF are helping out in this regard. Some temporary relief camps have also been set up in order to provide food and other facilities to the people.
On the other hand, the government of Assam is keeping an eye on the matter. The chief minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, has asked the officials to be well-prepared for the worst situation and coordinate with the disaster management authorities. People residing near vulnerable stretches of rivers have been told to adhere to the guidelines of the authorities and not to go close to the river banks.
A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) refers to the release of a huge amount of water that is collected in a glacier due to the failure of the natural barriers in the area.
Both state governments are still watching the level of the rivers and coordinating their relief efforts to ensure that the possible effects are reduced. The citizens have been asked to stay vigilant and work together with the local authorities until the danger of floods is over.
