lipurduar / Kolkata, October 30, 2026: A sudden Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) high in the mountains of Bhutan has sent an estimated 7.4 million cubic meters of water surging downstream, triggering a high-level flood alert across the Dooars and Terai belts of North Bengal. With the Sankosh and Mo Chhu river networks swelling rapidly, West Bengal administrative machinery has placed Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, and Jalpaiguri districts on maximum alert, executing emergency evacuations of over 10,000 riverside residents.
The floodwaters originating from Bhutan’s upper glacial reaches washed away public infrastructure at the Gasa Tshachu hot springs in Bhutan’s Gasa district, along with sections of roadway leading to Laya village and two Bailey bridges. While no loss of life has been reported from Bhutan, the rapid surge of water toward the plains prompted cross-border flood warnings for downstream regions in West Bengal and Assam’s Dhubri district.
Mass Evacuations and Relief Deployment in Alipurduar
In response to the flash-flood warning, the Alipurduar district administration and police initiated round-the-clock public loudspeaker announcements (miking) across riverside villages, urging families to immediately move to elevated ground and designated administrative shelters.
- Precautionary Relocation: More than 10,000 residents living along low-lying embankments have been evacuated. Between 4,000 and 5,000 people have been accommodated in temporary relief camps set up in government schools and community centers, while over 6,000 others moved to safer family locations on higher terrain.
- Vulnerable Pockets Under Watch: The administration focused evacuations on high-risk settlements along the Sankosh river basin, including Upper Sankosh Forest Village, NKC Sankosh Tea Garden, Kumargram, Chengmari, Valka Barabisa, Jharaguri, and Pakriguri.
- Emergency Rescue Response: Squads from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed across sensitive downstream corridors, including Tufanganj and Boxirhat in Cooch Behar district, equipped with inflatable rescue boats and emergency supplies.
Forest Minister Issues Advisory on Wildlife Movement
West Bengal Forest and Environment Minister Manoj Kumar Oraon appealed directly to local communities to cooperate with civil defence personnel and refrain from believing unverified rumors.
“A massive volume of water is rushing downwards due to a glacial lake breach in the upper reaches of Bhutan. It takes very little time for upstream runoff to hit the plains. We strongly urge everyone residing near the Sankosh River to shift to government shelters without delay,” Minister Oraon stated.
The minister also issued an advisory regarding wildlife behavior during flash floods. Because rising water levels routinely submerge low-lying forest tracks in the Buxa and Jaldapara corridors, wild elephants and other animals may flee flooded riverbeds into adjacent tea gardens and human habitations, requiring extra caution from villagers during transit.
Overnight Vigil Across Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar
Further west in Jalpaiguri district, emergency teams conducted overnight announcements across Banarhat and settlements along the Hatinala stream. Fishermen and daily-wage laborers working along riverbeds have been ordered to stay completely clear of active water channels.
With central hydrological agencies and district disaster control rooms continuously monitoring discharge levels at border gauging stations, administrative round-the-clock monitoring cells will remain active until the peak surge passes safely into the Brahmaputra system.
