The September 21 earthquake in 2009 caused major damages in Narang Gewog under Monggar Dzongkhag. It was one of the worst hit Gewogs. The Gewog is still recovering from the damages caused by the 6.3 magnitude earthquake. Around 90 percent of the homes destroyed have been rebuilt.
There are a few of them still living in temporary huts. Sonam Rinchen is one of them. He said he received some help from the government but he was unable to rebuilt his house due to shortage of laborers.
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Meanwhile, the 2009 earthquake has led to a change in the housing design and the use of construction materials in the gewog. Before the earthquake, they used to build two storied houses. But now many people are opting to build single storied houses using mud instead of stones. The new design are more earthquake resilient, they say. “If we construct houses with stones, it gets damaged easily during earthquake,” said Tshering Bumpa, a resident of Narang.
Apart from rural homes, the earthquake also damaged the gewog’s school and Basic Health Unit (BHU) in 2009. The reconstruction works for the School has resumed. The dzongkhag has terminated the initial contractor and the construction work has been retendered. The school is expected to be ready by the end of this year. Several temporary huts are still serving as classrooms for the students since 2009.
The reconstruction works for the BHU is also in full swing. Currently, health services are provided through temporary huts constructed soon after the earthquake.
