October 06: The artificial lake at Khumtey, north of Gomtu in Samtse doesn’t pose any threat.

This is as per the findings of a six member team comprising of officials from the Department of Energy and the Department of Geology and Mines that went to the site following reports that landslides had blocked Khanabarti stream, forming an artificial lake.

The team reached the site of the lake on the morning of the October 3 after walking for six hours from Gomtu with a night halt en-route.

The team found a small lake formed at a place called Khumtey on Khanabarti stream. No one knew exactly when the lake was formed due to a landslide.

The team found that inflow and outflow of water into and out of the lake is the same and therefore there is no additional storage taking place. The team has also assessed the river course and found that it is wide enough to ensure smooth flow of water without much inundation.

According to a news release from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the assessment of the team is that there is no risk from the lake but the landslide however needs to be monitored.