There is no denying that vehicles are an important mode of transportation in the country. However, for the people of Serzhong, Chuzargang, Umling and Tarithang Gewogs under Sarpang Dzongkhag, Nauka or a locally made boat is the most important mode of transportation. The boat, in fact, becomes the lifeline for the people of the four gewogs during monsoon when the rain-fed Mao River swells up making it impossible for people to cross. Our reporter Eshori Gurung takes a ride on the boat and shares her experience.
People wait for the boat on both sides of the Mao River. More people arrive and join them. The boat is pushed from the bank of the river by four ferrymen. While two ferrymen push the boat, the other two holds the rope tied to the boat. The rope acts like a brake pedal in a car.
Since the river is only knee deep towards the bank, the boat is pushed almost to the middle of the river where it is much deeper, an act to prevent the boat from colliding with boulders. With the stones under the water slippery, it isn’t easy for the ferrymen as well as the passengers to wade through the river.
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Ferryman Ambar Bahadur said deeper the river, better it is for the boat.
Earlier the boat used to be operated by Indian ferrymen. It has been about 25 days since the Bhutanese ferrymen took over. Jit Badahur of Chuzargang Gewog is the owner of the boat. “All the ferrymen are experienced. Even if the boat gets washed away for a kilometer, these men can safely bring back the boat to the river bank,” he said.
The boat ready for boarding. People start to get on the boat. Everybody is made to sit in the middle to balance the boat. As the ferrymen push the boat upstream, the passengers hold on tightly to the plank even as their hearts race. Barely a minute and the boat is on the other side of the river. One of the ferrymen jumps out of the boat with the rope to stop the boat. He falls down but quickly recovers and stops the boat with the help of the rope. A sigh of relief. This is an ordeal; the people of four gewogs including the ferrymen go through every day of monsoon season.
