July 22: As landslides and flash floods lashed Pasakha in the early hours of morning yesterday, our correspondent says the whole of Pasakha was left in a state of panic.


As flood water gushed into their homes, people said they rushed out of their homes in the dark. People shouting, children screaming and crying as every one ran for their lives. For many it was one of the worst experiences of their lives.

For the people living in the Bhutan Carbide and Chemicals Limited colony, yesterday’s flash flood brought back the memories of the major flood that hit the colony on August 2 in 2000 when the Barsa River flooded the colony.

In the fear of losing their lives, people living on the slopes and unstable areas packed their belongings and left their homes to safer grounds.


Although the situation calmed down in the afternoon, memories of yesterday morning will not leave them easily.


Yesterday’s flash flood in Pasakha also caused havoc at the Industrial estate forcing temporary closure of the industries. The four affected industries are the Quality Gases Private Limited, Lhaki Steel Rolling Mills Private Limited, Bhutan Bitumen and Kempa Private Limited.

Power supply at the Lhaki Steel Rolling Mills Private Limited was disrupted after flash floods damaged the wall of the BPC power sub-station.


This led to the temporary shut down of the factory. The flash flood also damaged about 150 metric tones of TMT bars.


The Managing Director of the Lhaki Steel Rolling Mills said the bars will rust easily since it has come into contact with water. He said they will now have to sell it at a lower price.



The Bhutan Bitumen factory also remained closed yesterday.

The flood water even swept away the drums containing bitumens.

At the Kempa Private Limited, the factory that produces refined soya bean oil, flood water gushed into the bottling plant. It caused minor damages to the bottling plant machine.

And the Quality Gases Private limited was filled with flood debris.

Meanwhile, the swollen Singye River has washed away a portion of the river protection walls at the back of the industrial estate.

Industrialists expressed fears of the wall being washed away at other points too.

The old bridge over Barsa River in Pasakha has also collapsed. The total extent of the damage is being assessed.








In Sarpang, the situation is nothing different. Frequent power blackout is a problem next to series of landslides and road blocks.

Our reporter Pema Samdrup says, heavy down pour last night caused flash floods in the market area. Yesterday night- the swollen Sarpang River changed its course entering the market area eroding about four meters of soil posing serious threat to the lives of the people.


Although there are no reports of casualties, our reporter Pema Samdrup says, residents are on high alert for fear of a major flood.


Following the damages, about 200 Dzongkhag officials, armed force personnel and residents joined hands to rebuild the two bridges over Kami river. The two bridges were damaged on Tuesday night.

The Dzongkhag evacuation team has already moved about residents from ten houses to safer grounds at the Sarpang Tar.