A glacial lake outburst flood in Bhutan has triggered high flood alerts and evacuations along the Sankosh River in northern West Bengal and Assam, India, officials said on Friday, October 30, 2026. The Bhutan glacial lake flood has prompted authorities to monitor water levels and prepare for a possible rise.
According to The Hindu, a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in Bhutan triggered a high flood alert in parts of northern West Bengal, prompting evacuations along the Sankosh River and its tributaries. Residents of riverbank villages in Alipurduar district were seen leaving their homes with their cattle after the administration issued evacuation instructions.
Water Resources Minister Nisith Pramanik said a glacial outburst occurred at Lemthang in Bhutan, with water flowing through the Mo (Mofu) River towards the Sankosh. The Hindu reported that nearly 7.4 million cubic metres of water surged out of the breached Shintaphu Lake into the Mo River.
A special advisory from the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, issued on Thursday, October 29, said the Indian Embassy reported a GLOF in Shintaphu Lake in Bhutan’s Punatsangchhu river basin. The Assam government said Dhubri district was put on alert for possible downstream effects. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority said the Sankosh’s water level was steady as of 6:30 a.m.
Officials said the surge could reach border areas within six to eight hours, potentially inundating vulnerable settlements in West Bengal and Assam. The Hindu also reported that a West Bengal minister pointed to a disastrous situation in Nepal as a warning of what could happen without quick action.
The developments have raised concerns over the Punatsangchhu project, a major India-Bhutan joint venture, as a sudden rise in river levels could threaten hydropower infrastructure. The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall in Alipurduar on Friday, which could further complicate the situation.
The reporting so far rests on a single outlet, The Hindu, and no independent second source has confirmed the flood volume or timeline. No response from Bhutanese authorities was included, and it has not been reported whether any actual flooding or casualties have occurred. The Assam Chief Minister’s office and the Darjeeling MP are quoted only in general terms.
Authorities in West Bengal and Assam are monitoring water levels on the Sankosh River and preparing for a possible rise, with the surge expected to reach border areas within hours.
Sources
This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.