A flash flood on the evening of 28th July has left the residents of Gyalpozhing in Monggar without drinking water. The flash flood caused by incessant rains damaged the water source of the Gyalposhing town area.
Kuenga Tashi, a town resident, said it is difficult without water in Gyalpozhing, especially during the summer heat. He also has a newborn baby at home.
“Without abundant water, it is challenging to maintain cleanliness since I have a baby at home. So forget about taking a bath and washing clothes; sometimes we even don’t get water to cook food,” added Kuenga.
Residents of the town are fetching drinking water from an underground water source constructed for the Office of the Gyaltshab by the Kurichhu Hydropower Plant. Gyalpozhing is a town of about 1,000 residents.
“I have to fetch water twice a day to use in the toilet. We don’t need much water for drinking. Due to the flash flood, we don’t have any water to be used for the toilet,” said Wangchuk, a resident of the town.
The flash flood also damaged the water source of Gyalpozhing College of Information Technology.
A student at the college, Cheki Lhamo, said students harvest rainwater for washing purposes and buy mineral water from the college canteen for drinking.
Another resident, Thukjee Nidup, a research officer at the college, said, “water is essential to stop the spread of the COVID 19 virus.” He added it is difficult to maintain hygiene without adequate water.
Engineers from the district administration assessed damages at the source on Friday. With the support from Desuups, water has been restored temporarily. However, residents can use water from the temporary restoration for washing purposes only.
It is estimated to take at least a week to reconstruct the water intake reservoir. The damaged reservoir, handed over to the public in June this year, is worth over Nu 4 M.
Sonam Tshering, Monggar
Edited by Sherub Dorji
