They are feared to have been washed away by flashflood

Tshering Namgyal | Mongar

A search and rescue team of more than 70 people, comprising police, de-suups and volunteers including teachers of Bayling Central School, are looking for the three boys who went missing since the afternoon of August 8 in Trashiyangtse.

A flash flood of Serkang stream that occurred at 2:45pm on a clear weathered afternoon is suspected to have washed away the three boys.

It was learnt that four boys of Bayling Central School went to the Serkang stream, which is located about 20 minutes walk away from the school, for swimming.

Sources from Trashiyangtse said one of the boys escaped as he went for toilet after a quick dip when the flashflood occurred.

Bayling Central School’s vice principal (VP), Chimi Dorji, said school authorities conducted attendance the moment local residents informed them about the flash flood.

“We found the four boys missing,” he said. “We immediately formed group among the staff and went to the incident area to look for them.”

According to the VP, some students learnt about the boy who escaped and school authorities rescued him from the other side of the stream. “We then informed the police, gewog and parents of the missing boys about the mishap.”

The three boys, two aged between 18 and one was 19 years were studying in class XI Arts and were staying in the hostel.

School officials said they have been cautioning students not to go near the stream.

Meanwhile, the search team combed the banks of Serkangri from the incident area until Choeten Kora, which will be about two kilometres stretch from 8am to 4pm yesterday.

Officials said the search and rescue team would continue the search today.

Edited by Tashi Dema