Following the government’s advice to move in after the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) across the world, Bhutanese living across the border town of Jaigaon have been moving into Phuentsholing ever since.
Today, almost all the schools under Phuentsholing thromde are packed with the Bhutanese residing in Jaigaon. Since there are not enough apartments and spaces in the town, schools are being used to accommodate Bhutanese living across the border.
People are happy with the initiative of the government.
For the past few days, people residing in Jaigaon have been moving in. People are seen adjusting with their friends and relatives. For those who couldn’t get space to shift in, schools are being used to accommodate them. Until yesterday, over 700 people were settled in schools.
“I stay in Bhutan side that shares border with Chinese lane in Jaigaon. Since we do not have a way from Bhutan we have to use Chinese lane gate to enter and exit. At this time it is risky so I approached Thromde to move in. Everyone is talking about coronavirus and we are tensed too. So we moved in,” said Samten Dorji, in Phuentsholing.
“Government asked us to move in for our own safety at this time. We are grateful and totally supporting the concerns of the government. Jaigaon is a crowded place and it is risky. We are happy to have moved in,” added Rinchen Dorji.
The committee formed for the COVID-19 in Phuentsholing plans to use other schools nearby and in Tading Gewog of Samtse If the current spaces fall short. The committee is trying to bring in all the Bhutanese staying across the border.
While many agencies are accommodating their staff in their office spaces, private companies are also planning to build temporary shelters.
Sonam Penjor
