Thimphu Thromde is prepared just in case a major earthquake strikes. The office has come up with its own Earthquake Contingency Plan for Thimphu city.
The plan says during an earthquake, a Thromde Emergency Operation Centre will be immediately set up to coordinate necessary response actions.
“We need to have a separate office equipped with internet, wifi facilities and all that telecommunication facilities,” said Thimphu Thrompon, Kinlay Dorjee.
In that set-up, the thrompon said there will be different sections to be started immediately which will be manned by the thromde staff.
The staff have already been identified to do planning, procurement, and logistics, among others.
Fifteen evacuation centres have also been identified across the city. It includes school grounds, recreational parks, and vacant government lands.
The thromde has allocated a budget of Nu 2 M to procure relief equipment.
“We have almost 25 who are trained by the Disaster Management Department with professionals hired from abroad. So these people are well trained and we are also providing them with sufficient equipment,” said Kinlay Dorjee.
It took two years for the thromde to complete the Contingency Plan. It was presented to the Department of Disaster Management last week for consultation.
Similar disaster contingency plan for four other dzongkhags are also under process.
