May 23: The number of houses damaged by the recent windstorm in Trashigang has risen to 58.

Many have lost their roof and with the Monsoon having begun, occupants are struggling to cope with rainwater leaking into their house.

58 houses including five community schools, one Lhakhang and a Gup’s office have been damaged by the windstorm in Trashigang. Most of the damage has been to the roof.

Our reporter Dorji Dema visited some of the affected areas. She said the occupants are coping with leaking rain water as best as they can.

The Moshi Community Primary School is one of the houses damaged by the windstorm. It was also damaged by windstorm last month. This time, the roofs of the science laboratory and the library have been blown off.

Choki Dorji, a teacher at the school, said they have been able to save the books and the lab equipments. It has been only three weeks since they restored the roof damaged by the previous windstorm.

In Lumang geog too, some of the houses have been hit for second time. Ap Kota a 36-year-old man from Barka Dung village said this time, the windstorm has damaged even household belongings.

Some of the villagers have borrowed Tarpaulin sheets from neighbours to use as roof and prevent the rainwater leaking into the house.