Kathmandu – A Bhutan flash flood damaged roads and hot spring facilities on October 29, forcing residents and visitors to move to safety as water surged through the Mo Chhu River.
Floodwaters struck the Gasa Tsachu hot springs and damaged a solar irrigation system in Punakha district. Road sections were swept away, leaving the remote Laya area without road access.
No casualties had been reported at the time of the initial assessment, according to Bhutan Broadcasting Service, cited by Onlinekhabar. Darkness and strong currents made it difficult to establish the full damage.
Employees and visitors at the hot springs were evacuated, along with people in other vulnerable locations. Punakha Central School said its boarding students had been moved safely to higher ground.
While early reports described a glacial lake outburst as suspected, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development subsequently identified Sintaphu Lake as the source. The amount of water released remained under assessment.
Bhutan’s National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology monitored river levels, while warning sirens were activated downstream. The Punatsangchhu-II Hydropower Project halted generation and opened its dam gates as a precaution.
The flood also triggered alerts in neighbouring India. ICIMOD urged communities to follow official advisories, highlighting the importance of warnings that reach people in time and clearly explain what action to take.
Photo: Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS)
