Chencho Dema

Punakha – The Punakha Dzongkhag administration has temporarily suspended white-water rafting in a bid to ensure safety and avert unpredictable risks during monsoon.

The decision follows an incident on July 5 where an Indian couple narrowly escaped drowning when their rafting boat capsized in Mochhu.

The couple and their guide were found clinging to the overturned raft, with the guide paddling with his hands to bring them to the riverbank. Their lives were fortunately saved thanks to a timely rescue.

Following this incident, the dzongkhag administration, in consultation with Punakha police and forestry officials, decided to halt rafting services temporarily.

Rafting service providers were however not consulted.

The Assistant Economic Development and Marketing Officer of Punakha dzongkhag, Yeshi Dorji, said that the suspension is a temporary measure.

“The dzongkhag is in constant touch with all the rafting operators to ensure high standards of safety and security. The suspension is a preventive measure put in place for the time being,” he said.

The dzongkhag will resume rafting activities based on weather conditions and further consultations with relevant stakeholders.

Yeshi Dorji said that the dzongkhag has been constantly monitoring rafting activities in both Phochu and Mochhu and advising all the rafting companies to adhere to operational guidelines to avoid such incidents.

Although no major incidents were reported to the Dzongkhag until recently, the recent mishap has sparked discussions on safety issues.

Yeshi Dorji said that the temporary suspension of rafting services was also due to the heightened risks posed by the monsoon. “The dzongkhag learned that the incident occurred due to rising water level and a strong reverse wave that overturned the raft.”

Rafting business owners, Kuensel spoke to, supported the dzongkhag’s decision. Currently, there are six licensed rafting operators in Punakha.

The manager of Druk Rafting Services, Tashi Wangdi, said that this decision was made for public safety and as such it will not significantly impact their business as July is not a peak tourist season.

Tourists, both regional and international, typically pay Nu 10,000 per rafting trip. Before September 2018, rafting was permitted on the Phochhu from the Samdingkha bridge to the confluence of the Punatsangchhu. This distance was later shortened to ensure that rafts do not reach the dzong area.

On the Mochhu side, rafting stretches from Yoebisa bridge to Zomlingthang.

Rafting is prohibited in culturally and environmentally sensitive areas, and children under seven are not allowed on the rafts.

Of the 21 river stretches suitable for rafting in the country, Mochhu is the most preferred, offering Grade-I and Easy-II rapids in winter and Grade-IV and Easy-IV rapids in summer. In contrast, Phochhu is more turbulent with intense rapids, suitable only for experienced rafters.

The rafting season in Punakha runs from April to June.

White-water rafting began in Bhutan in 1974 with the opening of the country to tourism. Several decades later, the Ministry of Economic Affairs granted a commercial rafting license specific to this location in 2018.