The recent heavy rainfall has caused more than Nu 4 M worth of damages to roads in Samdrup Jongkhar. Major damaged roads under the Department of Roads (DoR) in Samdrup Jongkhar are Lauri and Gomdar Gewogs centre road and secondary highway between Dewathang and SamdrupchhoelingDrungkhag.
Lauri Gewog centre road is the most affected amongst others with about 30 roadblocks reported along the 60 km stretch of the road since July 8. The gewog centre road has turned into a literal riverbed due to the continuous rainfall.
According to the officials from DoR in Jomotshangkha, the base of the road at eight different locations is completely washed away, one culvert at Zamtari is also damaged and about 500 meters of blacktopped road and several retaining walls are also washed away. The geowg is cut-off from the rest of the places for about 11 days now.
“Villagers are not able to transport anything due to the damaged road, moreover summer vacation for students are getting over and if the road condition is not good it will be more problematic for students to travel. DoR is currently clearing the blocks and we hope they will clear all the blockages as soon as possible,” said Tenzin, the mangmi of Lauri Gewog.
DoR official says the damages to the Lauri Gewog centre road alone is estimated at about Nu 3 M. currently, the DoR is clearing the blocks and officials say it will take another three days to clear all the blocks.
Meanwhile, the damages brought on by the onset of monsoon to Gomodar Gewog centre road and secondary highway between Dewathang and Samdrupchhoeling Drungkhag are estimated at about Nu 1 M. About 20 meters of the road at take-off point for Dewathang-Samdrupchhoeling highway at Dewathang was washed away earlier and the DoR in Samdrup Jongkhar repaved the road for traffic on the same day.
However, roadblocks caused by a landslide at Gomdar Gewog centre road is still not cleared for more than one week and officials from the DoR said, they will try to clear it by today.
