Kolkata, 30 October (H.S.) : A major flood threat loomed over North Bengal following a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in Bhutan, but timely administrative vigilance successfully averted a disaster in the Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday assured the public that the situation is firmly under control and everyone is completely safe.

Speaking ahead of the 'Mukhyamantri Darbar' public interaction program in Salt Lake, Adhikari stated that police superintendents, ministers, and MLAs worked tirelessly until 4 AM to manage the crisis while maintaining constant communication with the state secretariat's control room at Nabanna. The Chief Minister confirmed that the Sankosh River is now flowing below the danger mark and initial reports of missing persons have been resolved. Contact has been successfully established with 47 individuals who were previously unreachable, and all of them are reported to be safe.

The crisis unfolded on Thursday evening when a glacier collapsed in northwestern Bhutan's Gasa district, breaching the natural dam of Lake Shintafu. Under the cover of darkness, the resulting flash flood swept away several buildings in the Gasa Tshachu region. The massive volume of water surged through Bhutan's Mo Chhu river towards the Sankosh River in India, raising alarms of severe flooding in parts of Assam and West Bengal.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Bhutanese government immediately alerted the administrations of both Indian states. Acting swiftly on the warning, the West Bengal administration evacuated approximately 12,000 residents in Alipurduar overnight, relocating them to secure shelters equipped with adequate provisions of food and drinking water. According to officials, this prompt administrative response prevented any major casualties, ensuring the complete safety of all citizens in the vulnerable areas.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh