Come this monsoon, should any disasters occur in the country, the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement is fully prepared to respond to the emergency.

The ministry has already procured components of bridges measuring 140ft and 100ft with the budget of Nu 100 million. The bridges were procured for all the nine regional offices of the Department of Roads (DoR). This means each regional office has two complete sets of bailey bridges for the emergency.

DoR chief engineer, Lungten Jamtsho, said that the ministry has already trained engineers, dzongkhag officials, DeSuups, and armed forces personnel in Jomotsangkha, Samdrupjongkhar, and Sarpang to launch bridges in times of emergency.

The training, which is divided for engineers and non-engineers, includes both theory and practical sessions.

As a part of practical session, trainees launched bridge over Sisteychhu in Sarpang and Jomori in Samdrupjongkhar.

Lungten Jamstho said engineers are capable of launching bridges in a shortest span of time during the emergency.

“They are trained on all the parts of the bridges, which is important to recognise the materials during launching of the bridge,” Lungten Jamstho said. “Whatever the scale of emergency, the team will be able to gather parts and launch a bridge in about seven days.”

The ministry will conduct similar training in Samtse.

The bridges, which are patent bridges, were purchased from India.

During emergency, if more bridges are required, the regional offices will adjust from their stock.

Yangchen C Rinzin