Torsa River (also spelt Torsha and also known as Kambu Maqu, Machu and Amo Chhu) rises from the Chumbi Valley in Tibet, China, where it is known as Machu. Its course continues into Bhutan, India, and Bangladesh before joining Brahmaputra River into the Bay of Bengal.
Course
From Tibet, Torsa flows into Bhutan, where it is known as the Amo Chu. It has a length of 358 kilometres (222 mi) before entering India, of which 113 kilometres (70 mi) are in Tibet and 145 kilometres (90 mi) in Bhutan. After entering West Bengal in India, it is known as Torsa. In Bangladesh too, it is known by the same name. It is also known as: Chumbi, Am-Chu, Jaldhaka.
Afterwards, the river flows past the border towns of Phuntsholing (in Bhutan) and Jaigaon, and Hasimara (in India) and past the tea estate of Dalsingpara and the Jaldapara National Park. Ghargharia river meets with Torsa in the Tufanganj subdivision, near Deocharai and Balarampur. Torsa meets with Kaljani and then flows into Bangladesh by the name of Kaljani and meets with Brahmaputra in BD. A distributary known as Buri Torsa meets Jaldhaka.
Ghargharia river meets with Torsa in the Tufanganj subdivision, near Deocharai and Balarampur Torsa meets with Kaljani and it then flows into Bangladesh by the name of Kaljani and meets with the Jamuna there.
Major towns
Major towns on its banks are:
- Phuntsholing, in Bhutan
- Cooch Behar, in India
- Torsa Strict Nature Reserve, upstream in Bhutan
Hydro projects
- Amo chu Hydro Power Project, By NTPC Limited
Floods
River Torsha along with River Jaldhaka, and River Teesta have created major flooding multiple times in Bangladesh during monsoon season between June to September.