Thimphu thromde officials and volunteers constructed a temporary shed for a 65-year-old man who lost his belongings when a fire gutted the temporary shed he was living in yesterday morning in Changzamtok, Thimphu.

Thimphu thromde’s disaster focal person, Jasraj Limbu, said that the thromde and the man’s neighbours bought him ration and other necessities.

Thimphu city police officer-in-command, Major Wangdi, said that the man was allowed to live in a temporary shed near the private lhakhang as a caretaker since he neither had a place to live in Thimphu nor any relatives.

It was learnt that the man from Toebisa in Punakha is partially paralysed.

Jasraj Limbu said that although the elderly man is partially paralysed, he could walk and do other chores himself. “He only needs assistance while climbing stairs.”

Major Wangdi said that the fire incident occurred around 10am when the man went to a neighbour’s place for some work. “Police and volunteers put off the fire.”

He said that while the probable cause of the fire was short circuit from the rice cooker, as the man said he had left it on, police are investigating the cause of the fire.

Karma Cheki