A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) at Shintaphu Lake in Bhutan's Gasa district on Thursday evening has triggered widespread fear among residents living along riverbanks in Assam's Dhubri district, with authorities warning of a possible sudden surge in downstream water levels. The Central Water Commission (CWC) issued a special advisory alerting both Dhubri district in Assam and Alipurduar district in West Bengal to the risk.

What Triggered the Alert

The sudden outburst at Shintaphu Lake released a massive volume of glacial water, setting off flash flooding across Bhutan's mountainous terrain. The floodwaters are moving downstream through the Mo Chhu river system into the Sankosh river, which flows through portions of Assam and West Bengal. According to the CWC advisory, the flood surge was expected to reach the India-Bhutan border within six to eight hours of Thursday's outburst.

Fear Among Riverside Communities

Locals in vulnerable riverine settlements, including Surendrapur and Khoksaguri, said on Friday that residents had gathered along the riverbank to assess the evolving situation. Many expressed apprehension that a nocturnal surge could inundate homes and agricultural land with little warning. The anxiety is compounded by the area's history of seasonal flooding, which leaves communities with narrow response windows when water levels rise rapidly overnight.

Government Response and Monitoring

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state government was closely monitoring the possible impact of the Bhutan GLOF across vulnerable revenue circles of Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts. The Chief Minister's Office confirmed that the Dhubri district administration was on the ground and prepared to respond to any downstream impact. District authorities and disaster response teams across both districts have been placed on high alert.

Sankosh River Levels and ASDMA Update

An Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) spokesperson said the water level of the Sankosh river remained steady as of 6:30 am on Friday. Officials have urged residents to stay vigilant and follow instructions from local authorities as monitoring continues round the clock. Notably, GLOFs in the Himalayan and sub-Himalayan belt have become a recurring threat — Bhutan's glacial lakes have seen multiple outburst events over recent decades, each carrying significant downstream risk for India's northeast and eastern states.

What's Next

Authorities in both Assam and West Bengal are on standby as the flood pulse travels downstream. The CWC and ASDMA are expected to issue updated advisories as river gauge readings evolve. Residents in low-lying riverine areas have been advised not to move to riverbanks and to keep emergency supplies ready pending an all-clear from district administrations.