September 10: In Samtse several paddy fields in Sukrutey village under Samtse geog has been washed by a landslide triggered by the monsoon rains.

Our reporter Sonam Lhamo says, around five households have been affected the most.

Continuous rainfall in Samtse last month has triggered landslides in Sukrutey village of Samtse geog washing away paddy fields. Around five households near Dhaukhola River have been affected.

Purna Bhadur Pradhan is one of them. He owns about four acres of paddy field. He has lost about 40 decimals of his farmland. He told BBS that landslides and crops getting washed away are common every monsoon. Last year, in a similar incident, around 12 acres of paddy field belonging to seven were damaged.

He also said farmers in the village are spending sleepless nights with the fear that their houses might get washed away too. He said they have reported the case to the Dzongkhag administration requesting for a retaining wall.

Sources from Samtse Dzongkhag administration said the situation was studied last year in the village and have reported to the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs.

They said they have now been directed by the Home Ministry to construct retaining walls near the affected households.