Bhutan alerts India of possible floods

Bhutan has warned India of a possible dam burst on its territory that could cause heavy flooding in Assam.

Bhutan has warned India of a possible dam burst on its territory that could cause heavy flooding downstream in some areas in the northeastern state of Assam, officials said on Monday.

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An Assam government official said a formal communication from Bhutan had been received late on Sunday indicating the formation of an artificial dam on the Jampani river following massive mudslides in recent weeks.

"We were told that the artificial dam created in Bhutan could burst any time and if that happens a large area in northern Assam's Udalguri district would be inundated," the official said.

District authorities in Udalguri have alerted the army to remain on standby and warned the local people to be prepared for any eventuality.

"We are monitoring the situation," the official said. A similar dam burst in Bhutan a few years back flooded parts of Assam that borders the Himalayan kingdom.