The Bhutanese Leading the way.
During the 31st Meet-the-Press session, Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay reiterated that the government has been monitoring high-risk river basins and potentially dangerous lakes for years, long before recent regional disasters, and continues to do so with new investment and contingency plans.
These efforts aim to establish Early Warning Systems (EWS) across all major river basins in Bhutan and mitigate Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) risks.
“We must prepare for the worst-case scenario,” said the PM. “We cannot guarantee that we won’t face GLOFs and floods. In fact, we can guarantee it and we must be prepared when they do come.”
The threat matrix: Punatsangchhu and Lunana
The PM highlighted the development of a specific contingency plan for the Punatsangchhu basin, which stands as the number one hazardous headwater because it is home to 11 potentially dangerous lakes.
The worst-case scenario involves the outburst of Thorthormi Tsho, which could create a cascading effect by breaching Rapstreng Tsho and causing a “combined GLOF”.
“The level of Thorthormi lake has been increasing, and if it breaches its dam, it can empty into the Rapstreng and cause major floods. Currently, we are looking at reducing the lake levels,” said the PM.
To address this, a team from the National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) departed for Lunana on 9th September for a second attempt at a pilot siphoning project.
Siphoning channels water through pipes using natural gravity to reduce lake levels. Although the first attempt faced hurdles due to rough terrain and initial flow failure, NCHM applied invaluable lessons learned to target the natural outlet of the lake this time around.
Downstream preparedness and drills
The contingency plan for Punatsangchhu was derived from a recent earthquake simulation drill in Thimphu conducted under the command of His Majesty The King.
Altogether, 77 communities comprising 1,196 households, 4 schools, and 11,921 people are vulnerable in the Punatsangchhu basin, stretching from Gasa through Punakha and Wangdue Phodrang to Tsirang.
If an EWS alert triggers at Thorthormi, downstream communities have limited but vital evacuation windows: a 6-hour notice in Punakha Dzong, 5.3 hours in Samdingkha, and 2 hours in Lhadi.
“Training and exercises for GLOF events are being done for vulnerable communities. There is also an exercise for Punakha Dzong today,” said the PM, emphasizing that readiness requires active community participation.
Modernizing infrastructure and communication
When asked about improving network connectivity beyond the immediate lake areas, the PM explained that current EWS infrastructure relies on Iridium and Himawari satellite connections. While existing systems remain functional, the PM noted that it is high time for rehabilitation.
“GovTech, NCHM, and the Department of Local Governance and Disaster Management (DLGDM) will be tasked to identify and implement the most effective communication technologies while modernizing and upgrading Bhutan’s EWS network to ensure redundancy,” he added.
The recent Karma Tsho water overflow incident and the Nepal floods displayed the crucial importance of improved network connection in the highlands and in the vicinity of the lakes since the first informants were a herder in Paro and a local observer in Nepal, revealing gaps in communication before EWS warnings.
The PM said that while current EWS is old, they still work and that maintaining satellite links is far more cost-effective than installing cell towers in remote highlands. He added that EWS systems are important investments for the nation and economic stability but they are costly.
Financial backing for these upgrades is already underway. A USD 22 million support package from the Green Climate Fund was approved in June to expand EWS across all major river basins.
The Ministry of Finance and NCHM, in collaboration with UNEP, are currently developing the full project proposal titled “Enhancing Climate Information and Multi-Hazard Early Warning for Resilience in Bhutan”. The PM noted that while EWS investments are costly, they are vital for national economic stability.
A multi-sectoral responsibility
The government emphasizes that mitigating climate hazards cannot fall on a single agency. Effective response requires a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach:
NCHM provides the scientific foundation through climate, hydrological, meteorological, and cryospheric data. DLGDM and local governments lead disaster-risk governance, coordination, and community-level evacuation plans.
Infrastructure and hydropower agencies must incorporate hazard intelligence into engineering designs, investment decisions, and emergency action plans.
Health, agriculture, livestock, and security agencies must prepare for mass casualties, food security risks, livestock evacuation, and emergency search-and-rescue logistics. Land-use authorities and citizens share the responsibility to ensure that new developments do not increase exposure in already hazardous zones.
“We must look to reduce the risks, not create more,” said the PM Dasho Tshering Tobgay.
