RSTA advises people to refrain from travelling

Heavy rainfall has trigged landslides and boulders leaving numerous roads blocked across the country.

Department of Roads’ (DoR)s Chief Engineer at Trongsa, Taugay Choeda, said the Thimphu – Trongsa highway has five blocks. He added that the block at Teligang on Trongsa-Zhemgang highway has been cleared but the blocks at Dzongkhalum, Bubja and Reutala still remains. Engineer at DoR, Dhan Raj Chhetri, said that the block at Dzongkhalum will be cleared today.

Taugay Choeda said excavators have been deployed at the sites and the places are constantly monitored.

A DoR official said that the Trongsa-Gelephu highway blocks are also being cleared but due to several blocks at different places, the clearing would take time.

The road safety and transport authority (RSTA) announced roadblocks at Punakha- Gasa highway and Dagapela – Sunkosh road. The block at Khogochen between Dagapela and Dagana has been cleared.

Dhan Raj Chhetri said landslides have blocked several gewog roads at Chukha. According to RSTA, the roads connecting Lhamoizingkha dungkhag to other locations have been blocked due to swollen river and landslides at several points.

According to police, the blocks at the roads from Dagapela to Dagana, Thimphu to Wangdue, Phuntsholing to Thimphu and Samdrupjongkhar to Trashigang have been cleared.

Dhan Raj Chhetri said he is updating information on the roadblocks in the country through an app called Bhutan road safety. “I contact officials in other dzongkhags and try to post the information on the app for the public,” he said.

The police also provide information and help through toll free numbers 111 and 113. The RSTA yesterday through its social media page asked the public to refrain from traveling due to the harsh road conditions across the country.

Phurpa Lhamo