Siliguri, Oct. 29 -- A sudden outburst from Shintaphu Lake in Bhutan has triggered flooding, washed away a section of a key road and cut off the remote Laya region from the rest of the country, prompting West Bengal Forest Minister Manoj Kumar Oraon to issue a precautionary alert to people living along the Sankosh River amid fears of possible flooding downstream.
Oraon late Thursday night urged residents of Kumargram, Changmari and adjoining areas to remain vigilant and move to safer locations, if necessary, as floodwater from Bhutan could flow towards vulnerable areas of north Bengal.
He said the water was still around 50-60 km away but cautioned that the situation could become serious as it moved downstream.
The lake outburst occurred ...