Road: The national highway 2, the road between Trongsa to Zhemgang, has been closed since the evening of July 5 due to road widening work being carried out by Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project (MHPA) at Dzongkhalum.

Falling boulders and landslides block the road every now and then, especially during monsoon.

MHPA’s assistant executive engineer, Rinchen Dorji, said that three excavators and a bulldozer have been employed. “We can clear the road if there is only landslide, but frequent falling of boulders is making the site dangerous and difficult.”

Rinzin Dorji from the Road Safety and Transport Authority said passenger vehicles plying between Thimphu and Zhemgang and Thimphu and Kingarabten had to return from Trongsa on July 6.

MHPA is doing the road widening work at Dzongkhalum to transport their heavy electrical machines. Road widening started in December last year and is scheduled to be completed by March 15, 2017.

Dzongkhalum is some 10 kilometres from Trongsa towards Zhemgang. Vehicles going to Zhemgang, Gelephu and Panbang cannot travel until the road is cleared.

Nima Wangdi | Bumthang