Phurpa Lhamo | Gasa

Every summer, wooden bridges In Thangza-Toenchey chiwog in Lunana, Gasa were frequently washed away by the Phochhu.

Villagers guided by the local leaders had to then fetch logs and reconstruct the wooden bridge to keep routes open. With a new suspension bridge over the river, they need not worry about the troubles of rebuilding the bridges.

Work to construct the 98.5 meters suspension bridge was completed on July 30 this year.

Thangza-Toenchey Tshogpa Pema said that in the past people of Thangza were stranded on either side of the river whenever the wooden bridge was washed away.

“The wooden bridge was low and the river would easily wash them off.”

The villagers had to travel a day to fetch logs for the bridge.

“And bringing the logs would take around 10 days and another 10 days to construct. So it took a lot of time,” Pema said.

Thangza-Toenchey chiwog has over 75 households.

According to Lunana Gup Kaka, the suspension bridge would not only benefit the residents of Thangza-Toenchey chiwog but the whole gewog.

He said that if the other alternative wooden bridges connecting other villages were washed off, the suspension bridge would cater to all people in the gewog.

“Those travelling to Gasa or to Sephu in Wangdue take this route. So the suspension bridge is going to benefit all people travelling to Lunana.”

Lunaps travel every year to the lower lands to bring home ration before all routes close due to snowfall.

Tshogpa Pema said that some Lunaps made around five rounds with horses to Punakha and Wandgue. “Horses can also travel on the suspension bridge so it will benefit the people.”

The suspension bridge was completed with a budget of Nu 7 million (M).

Edited by Tshering Palden