BEIJING: China on Tuesday promised to keep India informed about the condition of the artificial lakes that have come up along the Brahmaputra in Tibet near the Indian border with China. At least three major lakes have come up, worrying sections of people in the Indian north east who fear that the lakes might burst and flooding waters flow downstream into India.

"It is caused by natural factors. It is not a man-made accident," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, citing satellite imagery. "We hope the Indian media will not make a groundless speculation on this," she said.

There are fears in India that the three artificial lakes might endanger lives of people living along the Siang in Arunachal Pradesh and downstream of Brahmaputra in Assam. The size of the lakes and the quantum of water in them is not yet estimated. China is saying they have been created due to landslides along the upstream areas of Brahmaputra, which is called Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake last month.

"The Chinese side, through the existing channels, will maintain communication with the Indian side on the cross-border rivers," Hua said. The lakes are on the eastern section of the India-China boundary, she said.