Alipurduar, Oct. 30 -- Residents along Sankosh River in North Bengal spent a sleepless night on Thursday, leaving their homes and taking shelter on roads with their children amid fears of flooding following a glacial lake outburst in Bhutan. Although the river's water level remained normal on Friday morning, bringing some relief, fresh concerns have emerged after an artificial lake reportedly formed in Bhutan when flash-flood debris blocked the natural course of a river.
The panic was triggered by reports of a glacial lake outburst at Shintaphu Lake, below Wakila Mountain in the Lungo area of Laya Gewog in Bhutan's Gasa district. Fearing a sudden rise in the Sankosh River, several families in Alipurduar district's Kumargram block left their homes and moved to safer locations, carrying essential belongings.
The Mo River, which flows through Bhutan, enters India through Kumargram, where it is known as the Sankosh, before eventually joining the Brahmaputra in Assam. Following the incident, alerts were issued in vulnerable riverside areas of Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts, as well as Dhubri in Assam. Public announcements were made to warn residents about the possible flood threat.
Sunil Barman, a resident of Sankosh, said: "Last night, we packed all our belongings, locked our house and moved to the highway. Many villagers spent the entire night on the road. Public announcements warned us that a dam had collapsed in Bhutan and that water levels could rise. Fearing the worst, we left our homes. Now we are returning."
Krishnendu Bhowmik, Chief Engineer of the Irrigation department's North-East Division, said there was no reason to panic. "Bhutan's National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology is in constant contact with India's Central Water Commission. Water has been released from Bhutan in a controlled manner. The rise in the Sankosh River's water level has been nominal and remains well below the danger mark. The administration and Irrigation department are monitoring the situation," he said.
Meanwhile, Rechard Lepcha, SDO Alipurduar stated: "The Kumargram block administration has arranged 18 relief camps with a combined capacity of around 7,688 people. Their individual accommodation capacities range from 68 to 900. Residents from neighbouring areas of Assam have also taken shelter at Sahebpara BFP School."
Alerts have also been issued in riverside villages of Tufanganj and adjoining areas of Cooch Behar. The Irrigation department is conducting public awareness campaigns under Rampur-I Gram Panchayat, urging residents to move to designated shelters. The SDRF and NDRF have been kept on standby.
Meanwhile, two Bailey bridges connecting Zhelngosa Chiwog and Gumgang-Yorbo Chiwog in Punakha's Goenshari Gewog have reportedly been damaged by floodwaters in the Mo River, leaving residents of the two areas cut off, according to a local leader.
More worryingly, an artificial lake has reportedly formed at Taktsi Makhang, near the confluence of Shintaphu River and Gangchen Taak River, after flood debris obstructed the natural water flow. There are concerns that the accumulated water could breach the obstruction, triggering another surge downstream.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay visited the site to assess the situation. Residents along the Mo and Punatsangchhu river valleys have been advised to remain vigilant.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.