The roar of the monsoon is getting louder by the day. Streams, rivulets and rivers have swollen to dangerous levels. We are yet to witness the full power of the season. Already, we have seen what it had to show us in the myriad ways it does.

Our roads become unmotorable; bridges get washed away, cutting off communities for weeks on end. Loose earth come sliding down and flashfloods destroy our roads, pathways and crops. In the towns, manholes burst to glory and flood the roads, causing inconveniences of kinds and kinds. Monsoon reminds us how bad a planner we are. Yet we let it pass, only to be painfully surprised by our complacency the next time round we are visited by the monsoon.

Children are on a long break. Travelling is a risky business at this time of the year. Parents should keep watch over their children – where they go and what they do. Carelessness can have us in sad situations. Early this week, a boy who had gone to play with his friends and siblings was washed away by Wangchhu. On July 1, five kids who had gone out swimming near Hati Dunga in Phuentsholing were left stranded when the stream flooded due to heavy downpour. They had to be rescued by the Royal Bhutan Police. On Wednesday, July 5, a falling boulder killed a couple in Phomshing, Trashigang. These are terrors that the monsoon unleash.

But incidents like these can be prevented if we are careful. Probably a little bit of awareness can help. As monsoon approaches, we could go round educating and alerting people about the dangers that the season brings with it. Surely this can be done. Dzongkhag administration, thromde, and department of disaster management could collaborate and take the safety messages to the people. Caution and preparedness is more important than addressing and redressing damage.

Until the monsoon is over and gone so, we need to be extra alert and careful. Travel with caution. Keep children away from streams and rivers.

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