Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in Bhutan

Why in News?

A GLOF from Sintaphu Tsho, a moraine-dammed glacial lake in Bhutan, occurred on the evening of October 29, triggering downstream flood alerts in West Bengal and Assam. The incident has highlighted the growing risks of high-mountain hazards in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region.

Key Details

• Location: Sintaphu Tsho is located near Wakila Mountain in Lungo, Laya Gewog, in Bhutan’s Gasa district.
• Impact: Floodwaters reached Taktsemakhang around 8 PM, damaging roads and bridges leading to Laya and cutting off the remote highland community from the mainland.
• Cause and scale: The exact cause of the GLOF and the volume of water released are yet to be established.
• Further risk: On October 30, Bhutan’s National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) issued an advisory about the formation of another artificial lake at Taktsemakhang, near the confluence of the Sintaphu Chhu and Lungu Chhu rivers, also known as the Gangchen Tag Chhu.
• Safety advisory: Communities along the Mo Chhu and Punatsangchhu valleys were advised to remain vigilant and avoid riverbanks and flood-prone areas.

What is a GLOF?

A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) is a sudden release of water from a lake formed by melting glaciers. Such lakes may be held back by unstable natural barriers, including moraines (accumulations of rocks and debris deposited by glaciers). Failure of these barriers can release large volumes of water downstream.

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