A landslide prone stretch along the Kangpara Gewog Centre road in Trashigang continues to pose risks to travellers. Yet, many people prefer the route due to its shorter distance and blacktopped surface. They are urging the relevant authorities to implement mitigation measures.
The stretch which is around 100 metres was damaged during monsoon in 2020.
In recent years, several vehicles were damaged due to falling boulders. An accident had also occurred at the area which claimed a life.
During rainy season, it is the landslide, and during winter, falling boulders pose risks.
There is an alternate route from Kangapara Gewog to travel to the rest of Trashigang. The route which is a farm road was also improved with laying of Granular-Sub-base last year.
However, only some people use this route.
Karma Drupjay, a resident said “Falling boulders pose a constant risk during the day. When it rains, travelling becomes extremely challenging, especially during emergencies. On several occasions, ambulances have been unable to reach us due to roadblocks. In such cases, we must walk from the other side to reach the patient, which is also dangerous. While an alternative road exists, it is significantly longer.”
Tandin, another resident said “The road is shorter from here and people prefer to take this route but it is risky. If we travel from the other side, it takes around four hours to reach Wamrong. From here, we can reach our village within two hours. It is inconvenient to carry out maintenance work during summer. Winter is the best time to do necessary work and doing so would be immensely benefit us.”
An official from the Department of Surface Transport based in Trashigang said that there are currently no plans carry out landslide mitigation works at the site.
Despite the risks, the road remains the preferred route for many due to its convenience. With no immediate plans for landslide mitigation, they hope the authorities will prioritise this critical issue to ensure safer travel for the 500 households depending on the road.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Tshering Zam
