Monthly Archives: December, 0

(Update) Gasa still remains cut off from the rest of the country following last Thursday’s flash flood. The works are underway to clear the highway between Gasa and Punakha which was blocked after the flood.

(UPDATE) His Majesty the King and the Gyaltsuen are still in Wangduephodrang monitoring the clearing works inside the ruins of the Dzong.

Many people were trapped after the Dungsamchu in Samdrup Jongkhar broke its bank and flooded the Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA) premise and truck parking at 8:30 am today. Women and Children trapped in the flood had to be carried to safety. The police, Dzongkhag and the Thromde officials took about an hour to complete the rescue operation. The flood water reaching up to the waist made the rescue operation difficult.

All Bhutanese are joined in grief as we try to reconcile with the images of the great Wangduephodrang Dzong consumed by flames and billowing smoke. Of all the fires that have reminded us of the impermanence of life and its manifestations, this has pierced our hearts no less painfully than the terrible sense of loss we endured when, Paro Taktsang, the holiest of our shrines was also destroyed by fire.

His Majesty the King, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo and the Gyaltsuen are in Wangduephodrang overseeing the firefighting efforts. The historic edifice, the Wangduephodrang Dzong, has reduced to ashes by a disastrous fire on Sunday. However, the sacred relics have been saved and now handed over to the Central Monastic Body.

(Update) Firefighters are still battling to put out the remaining fire at Wangduephodrang Dzong. Charred rubble is all that remains of the historic 17th century Dzong. The fire started at about 4 pm yesterday.

A major fire has completely destroyed the 374 years old Wangduephodrang Dzong today. The fire started at around 4 pm, razing one of the oldest and historic fortresses to the ground. Since the Dzong was under renovation before the fire, most of the sacred relics, which were relocated, have been saved.

Continuous shortage of teachers and rationalisation of schools in the rural areas were some of the questions raised by the National Council members to the education minister. Lyonpo Thakur Singh Powdyel was attending the National Council’s ‘Question Time’, yesterday.

Five offices and seven hotels in Phuentsholing were penalised for violating the tobacco rules and regulations after a surprise inspection. The offices included a government agency, three corporations including two media houses and a private organisation.

When tradition, passion and income come together, nothing less than excellence will be the outcome. That is what exactly is happening in a tiny village called Barshong under Khaling in Trashigang.