Chencho Dema

Wangdue—The usually quiet Bayta Chhu stream swelled due to heavy rainfall upstream, flooding Bayta, Geyla, and Tokha villages in Gangtey Gewog, Wangdue on the afternoon of August 18.

The flood, which began around 2 PM, is the first of its kind to hit the gewog in recent years.

Though no casualties were reported, the flood caused significant damage, particularly to potato crops belonging to 10 farming households.

Gangtey Gup Kinley Gyeltshen said that around three acres of potato fields were destroyed. “However, about two acres had been harvested, leaving one acre unharvested.”

The flood also washed away topsoil and the fencing around the farms.

In addition, the drinking water pipe at Beta Primary School was destroyed, affecting water supply for seven households. The foundation of Beta Bridge also sustained minor damage.

The flash flood is the first of its kind to hit Gangtey in recent years

Other local settlements were spared from the flood’s impact.

Gup Kinley Gyeltshen said that the school declared a holiday yesterday, and the teachers volunteered to repair the damaged water pipe.

Bayta Menchu, a local medicinal spring near the Bayta river, known for treating various ailments, was also washed away.

Gewog Administrative Officer Sherab Dorji said that the gewog office mobilised local volunteers and equipment for relief efforts, including deploying a JCB machine to divert water flow and assess the damage.

  “The incident has been reported to disaster focal person and assessments are ongoing to evaluate the extent of damage and prioritise recovery efforts,” he added.

The cause of the flash flood was attributed to sudden heavy rainfall after a sunny morning. Although the full assessment of the damage is pending, initial reports suggest that the situation has been stabilised.

On the same evening, another flash flood occurred in Beyul village in Kazhi gewog, causing damage to farms and a few houses.

No human casualties were reported.

Kazhi Gup Kinley attributed the flood to continuous rainfall over recent days.

“More than an acre of potato and chilli fields were destroyed, along with damage to two farm roads and the destruction of Hume pipes,” he said. “I have asked the residents to help the affected families in harvesting the remaining unaffected potatoes.”

Meanwhile, the Dzongkhag administration has been notified about the incidents. The assessment of the full impact of the flood is underway.