Safety: The Phuentsholing thromde has covered the pit that killed a 19-year-old student after he fell into it on August 7.

The thromde is also identifying other risky areas in the town so that safety measures can be implemented.

Phuentsholing Thrompon Uttar Kumar Rai said that the boy’s death was a tragic incident.

The deceased teenager was a student in a private school in Phuentsholing. He had fallen into the pit located near the taxi parking area without anybody noticing. Although the teenager was rescued from the water-filled pit, he died on the way to the hospital.

The pit was connected by a hume pipe from which some water flowed into it but the level of water was low. The area however was slippery.

The pit is a part of the storm drainage system through which rain water is diverted to the river. It was left open for repair and maintenance works, it was pointed out.

The drainage system in Phuentsholing dates back to the 90s. While the population of the thromde has drastically increased, the drainage system remains the same.

Thrompon Uttar Kumar Rai said they have made some changes to the drainage system recently.

“Not only this drainage and the pit, we are also looking into other such areas where there are risks around the town,” he said.

Work to repair and maintain the drainage system and pedestrian path have also been tendered out.

Rajesh Rai | Phuentsholing