September 08: Landslides and boulders loosened by heavy rain have blocked the road at Rotpashong, some 50 kilometers from proper Lhuntse.

The block occurred on September 6. The Lhuentse-Mongar passenger bus and several private vehicles have been stranded on the way.

Our reporter Tshering Jamtsho says the Department of Roads has deployed men and machinery to clear the block. However, the torrential rain is hampering their efforts.

Meanwhile a block on the Trongsa-Gelephu highway has left several vehicles stranded at Tingtibee. The Department of Roads says if the weather improves, they would be able to clear block within three to four days.

Our reporter Kinzang Lodey says landslides have also caused blocks at various places on the Tingtibee-Gomphu and Dakpai-Buli feeder roads. About three vehicles have been stranded. He also said that It’s not clear when the road will open.

An executive engineer with the Department of Roads says priority is being given to the highway.

The Trong Gup, Dorji Wangchuk told BBS that equal importance should be accorded to the feeder roads. He said the Tingtibee-Gomphu route is the only means of road communication for the people of upper Kheng.

Meanwhile a roadblock at Makaibari, some 50 kilometers from Phuntsholing was cleared this afternoon.

Traffic police at the site says there are high probabilities of landslides occurring at Taktikothi. Police caution motorists to avoid using the road until the weather improves.

The rainfall is also affecting business in Phuntsholing.The hardest hit is the Pasakha Industrial estate.

The road at Balujora on the Phuntsholing-Pasakha highway is being blocked frequently. So far two trucks had toppled off the road due to the rain.

Apple exporters fear that their apples might get spoiled if the rain continues.

In Tashigang, over 70 vehicles have been stranded due to a roadblock at Barshong, 30 kilometers from Tashigang proper.

Landslides triggered by heavy rain caused the roadblock last evening. Men and machinery have been deployed to clear the block. GREF officials said they hope to clear the roadblock by tomorrow evening.


Meanwhile, The Wangdiphodrang Tsirang and Tsirang Dagana roads are also blocked by landslides.

Our Tsirang correspondent Bumpa Wangdi says the road between Wangdi and Tsirang has been blocked at four different places with some of the vehicles stranded between the various road blocks.

The Tsirang Gelephu road is however open to traffic.


In Paro, the water level of the Pachu has risen to record high due to rain over the past five days.

The Dzongkhag Hydromet Division says the water level has crossed the danger level. Water level reading at the Nyemizampa has reached about three meters.

Normal water level reading during monsoon ranges between two to two and half meters. The highest was recorded in June, 1997 at 3.10 meters.

Our reporter Wangchuk says the Bhutan Power Corporation and Bhutan Telecom offices in the dzongkhag have confirmed that it would not disrupt services.

However police are cautioning people residing along the Pachu to be alert.