A wall in Changzamtog area in Thimphu collapsed on a 73-year-old employee of Thimphu Thromde killing him on the spot, yesterday. The man was cleaning the drain by the roadside below the wall, when the incident occurred.
The son-in-law of a building-owner nearby said he took out the man from under the rubble with the help of passerby. He said the man could have been saved had he received medical treatment on time.
He said the man was alive when they pulled him out but was declared dead upon reaching hospital.
An ambulance, without medical staff, was sent to fetch the man.
The health officials said they had to send just the driver as they are facing acute shortage of emergency medical technician, who usually accompanies the ambulance.
The deceased succumbed to head injuries and multiple rib fractures.
The son-in-law also said the deceased had tried to take out a big stone that is said to be the base of the retaining wall. “That triggered the wall to collapse.”
The thromde is investigating the case.
The deceased, from Samtse, has been working for thromde for more than 20 years.
