Billows of Disaster

Source: Bhutan Today

A terrific windstorm which lasted half an hour blew through Pemagatshel at 8 PM on March 30, affecting four gewogs and injuring a mother and child.

The gewogs affected by the disastrous winds were Shumar, Zobel, Yurung, and Chongshing. A maximum of fourteen households were affected in Shumar including two lhakhangs.

Zubel had 8 affected households, Chongshing had one and Yurung had two.

The two casualties in cluded Tshewang Dema, 37, from Bartseri village under Shumar gewog, and her 3 year old son who were admitted in Pemagatshel hospital at around 9.30 pm with minor injuries on the forehead.

Dorji Duba, a hu man resource officer, in Pemagatshel said that the victims were injured by falling stones on account of the strong winds.

However, the assis tant clinic officer in Pemagatshel hospital, Rin chen Phuntsho said that their condition is stable at present.

“The boy has been discharged with minor stitches, but the lady is still undergoing treatment and she will have to stay at the hospital for at least 3-4 days under observation,” he said.

According to the assis tant administrative officer, Samten Wangchuk, there were no major damages to the two houses in Khang ma village under Yurung gewog.

“Only the roofs of the houses have been blown away,” he said.

Again, at 3 PM yesterday, the strong winds resumed, damaging one more house in Chongshing.

Due to the remote loca tion of the gewogs, it takes 1-2 days of walking to reach them, hence the full extent of damages have not been estimated by the dzongkhag officials.

“The investigation is still going on,” said Dorji Duba.

“Strong winds are still blowing. The level of dam ages may increase if the winds do not stop,” added Samten Wangchuk.

By Pema Denkar in THIMPHU