April 24: Insurance claims for houses damaged by the recent wind storm have started to pour in at the head office of the Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan Ltd. (RICBL) in Phuentsholing.

Hundreds of houses were damaged by the windstorm in the five Dzongkhags of Trashigang, Pemagatshel, Sarpang, Samdrup Jongkhar and Chhukha dzongkhags.

81 houses, a lhakhang and a RNR center in Pemagatshel have been affected by the recent strong winds. The Pemagatshel Dzongda Goling Tshering told BBS of the 81, 66 have been severely damaged.

In Chhukha Dzongkhag also, there were reports of damages to several houses. The Dzongkhag authority is compiling the final report on the extent of the damage.

Over in Trashigang, 210 houses, four lhakhangs, eight schools, a forest staff quarter and a house at Nublang breeding center were damaged by the storm. The Trashigang Dzongrab Phuntsho Gyelchen said five teams have been deployed in Thrimshing, Kangpara, Lumang and Khaling geogs to assess the damage. He said the figure is expected to rise when the team completes the investigation sometime on Friday.

In Samdrupjongkhar, 16 houses including two lhakhangs were damaged. Dzongda Phub Tshering said they are processing for insurance claim.

In Sarpang, 15 houses have been damaged. The Sarpang Dzongda Sangay Thinley said of the 15, the roofs of five houses have been blown away, the structure of nine huts have been partially damaged and a permanent house has been completely damaged.

If the CGI roof has been damaged or blown away, the house owner will be given up to Nu. 20,000. House with wooden shingle roof will get up to Nu. 15,000 if the roof has been damaged.

The insurance claim for structural damage will depend on whether the house is permanent or semi permanent. The maximum insurance claim for structural damage in rural areas is Nu. 100,000 for permanent houses. Semi permanent houses can claim up to Nu.40,000.