The continuous rainfall in the last few weeks has wreaked havoc across the country. In Yalang village in Pema Gatshel, some families are sitting ducks for landslides after the area below and above their houses became unstable due to road construction.
Yalang Gonpa in Shumar Gewog has turned into a landslide-prone area. Already situated on a slope, people there allege that the road constructed last year is causing this. The natural disaster did not even spare the road, which was accused of being the harbinger of the disaster there. Today the road is also damaged by the continuous rainfall.
The families living there are now fearing for their lives. They say if the rainfall continues, they might get buried along with their houses by a landslide. Moreover, the roofs above their heads are becoming a threat to their lives. The walls have already developed major cracks and the houses look like collapsing anytime.
“The situation is becoming dire. The road below my house has started sinking, and so is my house. It has been just more than a year since its construction. Now we are worried today,” said Dawa Samdrup, a resident.
“The road from here was constructed last year. And it has created so many inconveniences due to the monsoon. We think we will only be fine if the rainfall is not so heavy or continuous. If not we are doomed,” added Leki Tshering, also a resident.
A family of three from the same gewog lost their lives during a landslide tragedy last monsoon. And an elderly man, also in the same gewog, nearly lost his life earlier this month when a landslide washed away his home. Against this background, they are now requesting the relevant agencies to do something before it is too late.
“A heavy rainfall always strikes fear in us. We are worried we might be washed away along with our house. So, we would be grateful, if the government could provide us stable land,” said Leki.
“I have a few tenants living in my house. And in total, we have around 10 people here. So, I am worried that we might all die together. We only stay here during the day. Forget sleeping, we can’t even eat in peace under the roof,” Dawa Samdrup added.
Officials from the Gewog and District Administration visited the village and assessed the ground situation. According to the Gewog, the situation is monitored closely.
“We are also planning to have a better place for them by informing about the risk and problems they are facing at present to the relevant authorities very soon,” said Sonam Dendup, the Shumar Gup.
However, this assurance does little to comfort those living there. They say they have to always find shelter elsewhere whenever the sky turns dark. While some go to their relatives’ houses, some of them spend their nights at the ECCD centre in the village.
“We are hoping the government would support us. I myself would like to try my best. But the government would be better than us. So, we would feel like they have saved our lives,” added Dawa.
The Shumar Gup said the gewog administration has discussed the safety of the residents and is on alert to help them in case of a disaster. He said the gewog has already planned to evacuate the residents. “We have also alerted the chiwog Tshogpas. As a matter of fact, we have informed everyone to be vigilant and call us immediately if something happens,” he said.
It has been more than 10 days since their houses started developing cracks. With more rainfall in the forecast, they can only hope the relevant authorities do something before a tragedy unfolds.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Sonam
