September 11: Two men have been killed and five houses damaged by last week’s torrential rain in Dagana. Of the two men, one died after his house collapsed when it was hit by a landslide burying him alive.

The incident took place on September 7 in Phunsumgang village under Geserling gewog. The other man was washed away while crossing a swollen stream in Lajab Gewog on the same day.

The torrential rain has also damaged five houses and left the Dzongkhag literally cut off from the rest of the kingdom.

Two shops in the existing town have collapsed due to a landslide below the areas where the houses were located.

Our correspondent Dorji says the adjacent houses could also collapse anytime if the rain continues. The occupants have now been evacuated to a safer place.

Because of the imminent danger of further landslides, the Dzongkhag administration and the business community have decided to relocate the shops to another place. Three other houses have been damaged in different gewogs by landslides triggered by days of incessant rain.

The rain has also caused road blocks at several places on the Sunkosh Dagana road leaving the dzongkhag cut off from the rest of the kingdom. It has also disrupted water and electricity supply in the Dzongkhag.

While the water supply has been restored, officials are still trying to restore the power supply.

Our correspondent says there are fears that if the road blocks are not cleared soon, it could lead to shortages of essential items in the Dzongkhag.