Climate & Environment
Satellite Data Shows 73% Shrinkage of Bhutan’s Sintaphu Tsho Lake After GLOF
An almost real‑time satellite assessment conducted by Suhora Technologies, a Noida‑based geospatial intelligence firm, revealed that the glacial lake Sintaphu Tsho in Bhutan’s Gasa district lost 73% of its surface area following a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) on October 29, 2026. The lake, located at about 14,700 feet above mean sea level, had an area of 24.13 hectares in 2026, up 3.4% from 23.33 hectares in 2016, before the flood. After the GLOF, its area dropped to 6.54 hectares, less than a third of any size recorded in the previous decade.
The assessment also examined a supraglacial lake adjacent to Sintaphu Tsho. Over the same decade, the supraglacial lake expanded from 5.74 hectares in 2016 to 16.51 hectares in 2026, a 188% increase. Following the GLOF, its area decreased to 12.47 hectares, a 24.4% reduction, yet it remained more than twice its 2016 extent.
Krishanu Acharya, co‑founder of Suhora Technologies, emphasized the value of continuous monitoring and satellite‑based Earth observation for understanding changes in vulnerable Himalayan terrain. He noted that timely insights can improve awareness of environmental risks and strengthen regional preparedness.
The GLOF destroyed facilities at Gasa Tshachu, a popular natural hot spring on the banks of the Mo Chhu River, and triggered flash flood warnings in parts of West Bengal and Assam. The lake is situated below Wakila Mountain in the Lungo area of Laya Gewog. The study used late‑October satellite imagery from 2016 to 2026 to track the lakes’ trends before and after the event.