Guwahati: The Assam government was closely monitoring the situation following a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in neighbouring Bhutan, with Dhubri district put on alert for possible downstream effects, officials said on Friday.
The Sankosh River, which flows through Dhubri district, could be affected by the flood, prompting authorities to step up vigilance and prepare for a possible rise in water levels, they said.
“The situation arising out of the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood in Bhutan is being closely monitored by HCM Dr @himantabiswa,” the Chief Minister’s Office said in a social media post.
“Team @dcofficedhubri is on the ground and prepared to effectively deal with the downstream effects,” it added. An Assam State Disaster Management Authority spokesperson said the water level of the Sankosh river was steady as of 6.30 am.
The district administration and response forces were on alert to tackle any eventuality, he said. A special advisory issued by the Ministry of Jal Shakti on Thursday for Assam and West Bengal said the Indian Embassy had reported a GLOF in Shintaphu Lake, located in the Punatsangchhu river basin in Bhutan.
Following reports of flash floods in the river’s upper reaches, water levels in the Sankosh river in India could rise suddenly in Assam’s Dhubri and West Bengal’s Alipurduar district, the advisory said. Local authorities in the two districts have been advised to remain alert, closely monitor the situation and take necessary precautionary measures, it added.
