The Gyalpoizhing-Nganglam road has opened to traffic yesterday after a flood washed off its base course and bitumen sealing on June 19.

The road remained closed to traffic for five days as 30 to 45ms of the road’s formation width was washed away at an area 42kms away from Gyalpoizhing.

The Department of Road’s (DoR) chief engineer, Karma Rinzin, said they had to deploy machines and cut a new road formation in the area.

He said although most of the road passes through cliff and rocky site, the affected area is located at an unstable area. “Frequent rainfall aggravates the situation.”

The chief engineer said they deploy machines at the site to clear the block as and when needed.

Meanwhile, this was the second time the road closed to traffic since its inauguration in May.

The road was closed to traffic on June 7 after landslides washed it away at an area, which is 4kms away from the Kuri-Gongri confluence.

Road users say the roadblock affects them.

A truck driver and owner, Tshering Tashi, said the roadblock cause huge loses for his business.

More than 100 vehicles ply along the route every day, mostly heavy vehicles. There are also bus services between Mongar and Phuentsholing and Trashigang.

The Road Safety and Transport Authority officials in Mongar closed the route for public bus services.

Officials say since the road is new and not stable, the bus services will be stalled for the monsoon season.

Tashi Phuntsho | Mongar