Guwahati, Oct. 30 -- A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in Bhutan has triggered a high flood alert in Assam and West Bengal.

Residents were asked to evacuate from vulnerable areas along the Sankosh river and its tributaries following which people were seen leaving their homes along with their cattle in Alipurduar district of West Bengal.

The outburst occurred at Shintaphu Lake in Bhutan's Lemthang region.

This has sent a massive volume of water from the lake into the Mo (Mofu) river, which flows into the Sankosh.

Officials said the flood surge could reach border areas within six to eight hours, potentially inundating vulnerable settlements in West Bengal and Assam.

Teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National ...