A flash flood washed away a labour camp consisting of 13 temporary sheds and a motorbike at Silibe in Maedtsho gewog, Lhuentse on the evening of June 13.

Local residents say that what started as a light rain around 5 to 6pm turned into a torrential downpour, causing the flood.

Residents also said that this is the first time it has rained in the gewog.

While there were no casualty and crop damages, the flood washed away laptops, printers, ration and beddings in the labour camp.

People living in the camp went to a safer place when the flood occurred but lost all their belongings. Victims said they were informed about 6:30pm about the flood and they ran for safety, leaving everything behind.

The flood also affected some portions of the gewog road and farm roads.

It also damaged the under-construction RCC bridge that connects a native cattle-breeding centre of Sertsham to the grazing area located on the other side of the river.

Maedtsho gewog officials said they suspect a lake near a hill might have burst and caused the flood.

Yurung Bumdhir tshogpa, Choda Jamtsho, said there was heavy rain at the mountainside, which could have triggered the lake to burst.

Dzongkhag kidu officer, Tshering Chophel, said the dzongkhag disaster management team distributed disaster kits to the victims. The kits have beddings and utensils.

Meanwhile, a villager, Tshering Wangmo, said farmers have been waiting for the rain to cultivate paddy. “Farmers are now rushing to the fields to transplant paddy saplings.”

Tashi Phuntsho  | Mongar

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