📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / DescriptionSankosh (rivière) OSM.png
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Bhutan glacier burst prompts high alert in West Bengal’s Alipurduar, Cooch Behar districts
✍️ Bhaskar English
🗓 30 Oct 2026, 10:34 AM
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A sudden glacier outburst in Bhutan has led West Bengal authorities to issue a high alert, urging Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts to closely monitor the Sankosh River for rising water levels.
A glacier in Bhutan experienced an abrupt outburst, releasing a large volume of meltwater into downstream river systems. The surge reached the trans‑border Sankosh River, which flows along the Bhutan‑India frontier before entering West Bengal.
West Bengal’s Disaster Management Department activated a high‑alert status for the northern districts of Alipurduar and Cooch Behar. Officials have instructed local authorities and disaster response teams to monitor water levels in the Sankosh River continuously and to be prepared for possible flooding in low‑lying areas.
The alert also calls for readiness of evacuation plans, deployment of rescue equipment, and dissemination of warnings to residents living near the riverbanks. While no immediate damage has been reported, authorities remain vigilant as the river’s flow stabilises.
State officials are coordinating with the Bhutanese authorities to track the glacier’s condition and to share real‑time hydrological data, aiming to prevent any further escalation of the situation.
West Bengal’s Disaster Management Department activated a high‑alert status for the northern districts of Alipurduar and Cooch Behar. Officials have instructed local authorities and disaster response teams to monitor water levels in the Sankosh River continuously and to be prepared for possible flooding in low‑lying areas.
The alert also calls for readiness of evacuation plans, deployment of rescue equipment, and dissemination of warnings to residents living near the riverbanks. While no immediate damage has been reported, authorities remain vigilant as the river’s flow stabilises.
State officials are coordinating with the Bhutanese authorities to track the glacier’s condition and to share real‑time hydrological data, aiming to prevent any further escalation of the situation.