Glacial lake burst triggers flash flood damaging Bhutan's Gasa Tshachu hot springs
A flash flood from a glacial lake burst in Bhutan washed away infrastructure at the Gasa Tshachu hot springs, with no injuries reported.
At a glance
- Shintaphu glacial lake burst caused a flash flood damaging Gasa Tshachu hot springs in Bhutan.
- No injuries or loss of life were reported from the Thursday night flood event.
- Two Bailey bridges and part of the road to Laya village were washed away, now impassable.
A flash flood caused by the bursting of the Shintaphu glacial lake damaged the Gasa Tshachu hot springs in Bhutan's Himalayan kingdom on Thursday night, with no injuries or loss of life reported.
According to Bhutan's state broadcaster BBS, the floodwaters washed away infrastructure at the popular natural hot springs attraction. The extent of damage remained unclear due to "darkness and the strong flow" of floodwaters, though BBS reported that two Bailey bridges may have been destroyed.
Bhutan's national newspaper Kuensel reported that part of the road leading to Laya village, where the springs are located, was also washed away, rendering it impassable and closed indefinitely to traffic.
Authorities are assessing the damage amid concerns about a large artificial lake that formed after the flood-affected river channels conjoined. Residents in the Mochhu and Punatsangchhu river valleys were advised to remain vigilant and avoid riverbanks and flood-prone areas.
In neighboring India, flood warnings were issued in parts of West Bengal and Assam following the glacial lake outburst, according to India's NDTV.
The Gasa Tshachu hot springs are a major tourist attraction in northern Bhutan, nestled between India and China. The site was previously damaged by a flash flood in 2021 when the Mochhu River changed course.
The region has experienced similar catastrophic events, including a flash flood in neighboring Nepal in August that killed more than 1,500 people and left over 5,000 missing.
Source: Al Jazeera
Questions and answers
- What happened at Bhutan's Gasa Tshachu hot springs?
- A flash flood caused by the Shintaphu glacial lake bursting its banks washed away infrastructure, two Bailey bridges, and part of the road leading to the springs on Thursday night.
- Were there any injuries from the glacial lake burst in Bhutan?
- No injuries or loss of life were reported from the flash flood that damaged the Gasa Tshachu hot springs.
- What warnings were issued after the glacial lake outburst?
- Residents in the Mochhu and Punatsangchhu river valleys were advised to avoid riverbanks and flood-prone areas, and flood warnings were issued in parts of West Bengal and Assam in India.
