Bhutan hot springs hit by flood after glacial lake outburst

The springs, a major tourist attraction in northern Bhutan between India and China, were also hit by a flash flood in 2021 when the Mochhu River changed course and swept through the area. In neighbouring Nepal, a mountainous area about 600km (380 miles) to the west, a flash flood on its border with China in August killed more than 1,500 people and left more than 5,000 missing.

State broadcaster BBS said on Friday that the extent of the damage was unknown because of “darkness and the strong flow” of the floodwaters, and that two Bailey bridges, portable prefabricated structures, may also have been washed away. According to Kuensel, Bhutan's national newspaper, part of the road leading to the village of Laya, where the springs are located, had been washed away, rendering it impassable and closed to traffic indefinitely.

Kuensel said that, as authorities assess the damage, concerns have emerged about a large artificial lake formed after the flood-affected river channels conjoined following the outburst. The report added that residents along the Mochhu and Punatsangchhu river valleys were advised to remain vigilant and avoid riverbanks and flood-prone areas. In neighbouring India, flood warnings were issued in parts of West Bengal and Assam following the outburst, according to broadcaster NDTV.