Kathmandu. A glacial lake in Bhutan’s northern Gasa district has burst.

The severe flood has washed away the famous ‘Gasa Chhachu’ hot water pond there. The flood has also damaged the national highway connecting Punakha and Gasa. The full details of the damage are yet to be ascertained.

According to ‘Daily Bhutan’, the Shintafu glacial lake near Wakila Himal in Laungo burst on Thursday evening. After the glacial lake burst, the flood in the Mo Chu river completely washed away the ‘Gasa Chhachu’ hot water pond of historical and tourist importance on the bank of the river.

The floods have completely washed away the 31.85-km section of the Punakha-Gasa subsidiary national highway, disrupting transport services for an indefinite period. The local administration has urged the public not to travel except for essential work and to make alternative arrangements. The flood has also damaged the road section connecting the remote high mountain settlement of Laya in Bhutan.

Officials said that no human casualties have been reported so far as warning sirens were sounded before the floods occurred and residents in vulnerable areas were immediately evacuated to safer places. A detailed investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the lake burst and the amount of water flowing.

Located at the mouth of the Mo Chu River, Sintaphu Lake is on the list of 17 ‘very risky’ glacial lakes identified by the Bhutanese government. In May and June 2023, experts conducted an on-site study of the lake and installed monitoring equipment.

Flood warning issued in India

The Mo Chu River, which flows from the Shintafu Lake, merges with the Pho Chu River after reaching Punakha and becomes Puntsangchu. This river later enters India and is known as the Sankosh River.

The Central Water Commission of India has issued a special flood warning for the states of West Bengal and Assam after a glacial lake burst in Bhutan. The district administrations of Alipurduar in West Bengal and Dhubri in Assam have been put on high alert as the water level in the river may rise suddenly. Also, residents in the riverbank areas have been urged to move to safer places.