April 16: Around 166 houses in Trashigang have been damaged by strong winds on Saturday night, April 12.

Houses in Khaling and Lumang geogs were the most affected while some houses in Thrimshing, Kangpara, Sakteng and Shongphu geogs were also damaged.

Our reporter Dorji Dema says that some of the houses reported of roofs getting blown away and eventually leading to the downpour inside the houses soaking the furniture.

At Moshi Community Primary School in Wamrong, the entire roof of the academic block and the classrooms were blown off leaving only the roof of the alter room intact. The classrooms were flooded with the rain water soaking the books and stationeries of the students.

The Principal of Moshi Community Primary School Dorji Gyalpo said that the school is trying to replace the roofs and other damages to resume the classes.

At Tshogonpa Community primary School in Lumang geog, the roofs of the principal’s residence and staff quarters were also blown off. Our reporter says that the staff has been moved to the classrooms for the time being.

Meanwhile only one academic block at Dungmanma Community primary School was damaged. The Assistant Dzongkhag Education Officer told BBS that the damaged roofs will be replaced with CGI sheet with labour from the community at the earliest.

Meanwhile, the Dzongkhag Administration in Trashigang has been visiting the affected areas and houses. Trashigang Dzongda Dorji Norbu said investigation teams are in the affected areas. He said many of the affected households have asked for assistance in expediting the insurance claims.

In Samdrup Jongkhar the people of Martsala geog experienced the fierce winds for two consecutive nights- on Saturday and Sunday. Speaking to BBS over the telephone this afternoon, the Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongda said that the strong winds has damaged two houses, two lhakhangs and a community primary school in Martsala geog.

Dzongda Phub Tshering added that it has also damaged two households and a lhakhang in Gomdar village. Deothang geogs also reported of a damaged house. Although this is just the preliminary report, the Dzongkhag is carrying out further investigation in the other geogs.