Some consider it to be holy, some call it a curse. A strange and mysterious stream is causing concern to residents of Trashi Yangtse town. Unlike other water bodies, the Serkangchhu stream remains calm at times of heavy rainfall but swells up during dry sunny days causing flash floods.
The Serkangchhu flows down right through the town. It may look small, but the stream is notorious for its unpredictable nature. Normally, rivers, streams and lakes swell up during the monsoon. However, the residents say the Serkangchhu is quite the opposite. It floods on bright sunny days.
The story behind the stream differs among people. Some consider it as blessed water.
“Our elders told us that the stream is Thruechu for the Chorten Kora. They said the stream swells when the stupa is not maintained well,” said Nima Wangchuk, 85.
“Our ancestors told us that there are a thousand dakinis on the cliff where the stream flows.”
Meanwhile, some believe the stream to be a work of evil.
“I feel that this stream is evil, like it is possessed by a demon. This stream causes flash floods only during auspicious days,” said Tshering Dorji.
“I think the last flood occurred on the 15th date of the Bhutanese calendar. Even on sunny days, it can cause floods.”
“I think over a century has passed since the stream changed its course. In the past, the stream used to flow by the Dzong,” said another town resident, Ngawangla.
He added, “After a flood, the stream changed its course to where it is now.”
Whatever maybe the history, the threat from the stream is real. The latest incident took place in August when three boys were washed away. Four students had gone to bathe in the Serkangchhu but the swollen stream washed away three of them.
Meanwhile, the dzongkhag administration is planning to construct additional retaining walls as part of their mitigation efforts.
“We constructed retaining walls along more than half of the stream. It was over 2 years back. That is why I think the recent flash flood did not cause much damage to the town,” said Trashi Yangtse Dzongrab, Lam Dorji.
“We are now planning to construct retaining walls on the remaining part in the next fiscal year.”
He added that the office is also planning to meet experts to discuss the possibility of installing a flood warning system.
However, there are no plans to carry out any study to find out the reason for the stream’s unusual flooding pattern. For now, people can only pray that the stream does not flood again, and if it does so, hope that the mitigation efforts are enough to keep them safe.
Tshering Dendup
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
