SJ-Flood:  As a temporary measure, construction of a wooden bridge to connect Samdrupjongkhar Primary School with the town began yesterday.

The August 30 flash flood washed away the old bridge connecting the school with the town.

The construction began after a meeting with thromde officials. While no damages were reported to the school infrastructure, the school remains totally cut off.

The temporary bridge was decided in a meeting with thromde officials yesterday following which the construction began immediately.

With about 100 officials from the Dewathang Army, dzongkhag administration and Dessups involved, the construction of the brigde is expected to be complete in about three days.

Thromde’s education officer Dorji Gyalpo said that as construction of a concrete or suspension bridge would consume more time, a wooden bridge was decided. This, he said, would also hamper the ongoing academic session, as it would mean closing the school for more than a month.

“Another option was the footpath but the old footpath has become densely forested and the soil is unstable,” he said, adding they couldn’t take risks.

Dorji Gyalpo said that the school would have a permanent solution once the thromde starts the construction of a concrete bridge near the school that has already been planned. The bridge would connect Samdrupjongkhar check post at about 4km passing through the school.

Meanwhile, although Samdrupjongkhar received some rainfall in the morning, the Dungsam river has subsided by yesterday.

Yangchen C Rinzin