A week after a flash flood struck Dechencholing, residents are facing the urgent challenge of finding new homes, as their properties remain buried under debris or destroyed. While some are seeking refuge in temporary shelters, others are actively searching for new places to settle. Meanwhile, schools have resumed and are taking extra measures to help children cope with the aftermath of the event.
Tobgay was working at a construction site when the flood struck, while his wife and two children barely escaped to safety at home.
Although they had always feared the Wangchhu River might flood their home, they never imagined the Dechencholing stream could cause such devastation.
Now, Tobgay is trying to salvage what remains of his home. His family have no choice but to find a new place to live.
“I am trying to collect and wash clothes I can find from the debris so that my family and I can move to Dangrina. Of course, the rent up there will be higher than it was here, but we do not have a choice. We cannot think about money in times of emergencies like this.”
Like Tobgay, Kinley Pem is another resident displaced by the flood in Dechencholing Satellite Town. She has a paralyzed daughter.
Although they were staying at a temporary shelter, Kinley says she needed to find a new house for her daughter’s convenience.
Kinley and her family have moved to a new place, bringing only a few remnants from their old home.
“Everybody is telling me that it is risky to keep living here. So, I have looked for a place at Taba. The rent is Nu 14,000 but we do not have a choice since it is hard to find a place to stay.”
However, Tobgay and Kinley are not alone in their struggle; many families from Dechencholing Satellite Town are also forced to find new places to call home.
“While some families are living at the Royal Body Guard’s mess, some have gone looking for places to live in Taba and Kabesa. Even the person I am helping right now is moving to Taba,” said Rinchen Phuntsho, a volunteer.
As families work to rebuild their lives, Dechencholing School is stepping in to support students affected by the flood.
Efforts include providing counselling to help students cope with stress, organising games to uplift their spirits, and arranging communal lunches organised by teachers to offer additional support.
Tashi Gyeltshen, Dechencholing Higher Secondary School’s principal said “Out of 62 students, 31 of them still need further intervention. So, we have plans to have counsellors get into different rooms with different students and sit down with them. After that, they will get to the individual level and see what is disturbing the students and find a way to help them.”
Furthermore, when school resumed on Wednesday, students were engaged in fun activities instead of immediately diving into lessons.
Devika Pradhan & Karma Samten Wangda
Edited by Sherub Dorji
