The rain fell incessantly from June 20 through June 26 in Pemagatshel causing damage to infrastructures, property and crops. The downpour gauged a record of more than 355mm in the six days the last day only measuring 126mm, highest in five years.
Among other damages, the rainfall washed away the retention wall of Pemagatshel Dratshang built at the cost of Nu 8.9 million. With collapsing of the wall, telephone line to the dzongda’s residence is disconnected and water pipes to the bank colony washed away.
Farm roads have suffered from the mud slide and falling boulders. In Thongsa village, three houses are partially damaged by a mudslide which also tramples down a maize field.
In another incidence, portion of retention wall of recently constructed doctor’s residence and of the income generation center of Dongsep women group has crumbled away.
Two gypsum powder factories are closed due to the running out of the gypsum boulders. Druk Satair Gypsum mines are grounded due to the road blocks and working conditions in the premises becoming hazardous to the miners. A part of the Nganglam-Gyelpozhing road near Dungsam Cement Project has been washed away by the rain.
In Yurung, the laborers are not able to work for the construction of a hostel and additional classrooms due to the heavy rain.
The town residents in Pemagatshel are spending sleepless nights for they are scared of the possible sliding away or washing off of the town.
A resident said, ‘We remain busy throughout the night of June 26 clearing the debris surface runoff in the town’. The whole area of Pemagatshel town is built on a geologically fragile slope.
