A 68-metre suspension bridge was launched over the Jitichhu at Namgyalchhoeling (Lahireni) gewog in Samtse on March 10.

The bridge will benefit about 80 households with 560 people in three villages of Kimbutar, Satshamcha, and Gyalphozhing.

Tashichholing drungkhag engineer, Ratna Bahadur Ghalley, launched the suspension bridge, in consultation with the dzongkhag engineer.

Until the new bridge was constructed, people from these villages used bamboo bridges to cross the river.

Satshamcha-Gyalphozing tshogpa, Maitaraj Limbu, said that Jitichhu would wash away at least three bridges a year. “The river looks tiny in winter but it swells in summer.”

He also said that locals benefitted from working at the construction of the bridge.

Namgyalchhoeling gup, Ratna Bahadur Ghalley, said the Nu 2.4 million (M) was invested to complete the bridge under the small development programme funding from the government of India and funding from the government.

The gup said Satshamcha-Gyalphozing chiwog is the most remote place in the gewog. It takes about eight hours on foot to reach Satshamcha from Namgyalchhoeling gewog centre. A farm road, which is partially completed, still has nine kilometres to complete.

Rajesh Rai | Phuentsholing

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