Staff Reporter 

Tsirang dzongkhag administration officials distributed 1,524 packets of chewing tobacco and about 200 packets each of cigarettes and bidi to over 500 individuals as of yesterday.

The distribution began on August 21 after the dzongkhag received the tobacco products.

An official from the dzongkhag said that while hundreds of requests have come from all the gewogs, the supply could meet only about 10 percent of the demand.

A person can buy either three packets of chewing tobacco, or a packet of cigarettes or a bundle of bidi.

While the demand for cigarettes was high among urban residents, many villagers requested for chewing tobacco according to an official.