Accident: Dzongkhag officials and police yesterday rescued a class X student of Phuyum middle secondary school in Lhuentse who was trapped for three hours after a boulder rolled onto her hut.

When the rock fell on the hut around 6.30am, she was in the kitchen preparing lunch for school.  According to the 16-year-old’s mother, Choki Wangmo, she was cleaning the drain with her son when she heard the boulder roll.  As soon as she called her daughter, the boulder landed on the kitchen and trapped her daughter.

“My daughter said she was quite safe under the rock but wasn’t able to move,” Choki Wangmo said. “Luckily nothing happened to her and I’m thankful to police and officials for saving my daughter’s life.”

As people learnt about the incident, a team of police and health personnel, and dzongkha officials came together and, after more than two and half hours, successfully rescued her.

Lhuentse hospital’s Dr Sonam Jamtsho said the student was brought to the hospital and is in a stable condition with no fractures or injuries. “But she should be kept on observation for 24 hours,” he said.

Her mother works in the dzongkhag administration as a messenger and lives with her two children and husband in the hut line, about five minutes walk from the dzong.  All her belongings were moved to the dzongkhag yargay tshogdu hall since half of her home was crushed.

Dzongkhag officials said the boulder could have rolled off after a rain on May 12 evening loosened the earth around it.

By Tashi Phuntsho, Mongar

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