October 05: The Monsoon rain has stopped but its aftereffects are still being faced in some places. In Samdrupjongkhar, business has been dealt a severe blow after the Monsoon rains washed away a bailey bridge in the Indian state of Assam.

Traffic between Samdrupjongkhar and Phuntsholing through Assam has been suspended for almost a month now. Due to this, business people in Samdrupjongkhar have not been able to bring in stocks of goods from Phuntsholing.

Many wholesale dealers said they are running out of essential commodities like salt, milk, and oil. Wholesale dealers said bringing in stocks via the lateral route would be too expensive.

Truck owners charge about Nu. 7,000 for transporting a truckload of goods from Phuntsholing to Samdrupjongkhar. In comparison bringing in goods via the lateral route could cost as much as Nu. 30,000.

Meanwhile business community members, local leaders, and Dzongkhag officials have met to find a solution to the problem. They have now appealed to the Dzongkhag authorities requesting for the resumption of the military escort which has been discontinued ever since the bridge was washed away.

Passengers travelling by Indian bus services use a detour bypassing the collapsed bridge.

But without military escort, business community members say bringing consignments of goods along the Phuntsholing Samdrupjongkhar road is too risky.