Tshering Namgyal | Mongar

Windstorm and rain damaged more than 10 acres of maize field in Ngatshang gewog, Mongar, recently.

Gewog officials, who assessed the disaster, recorded the impact of about 10.5 acres of maize field that belongs to 25 households in two chiwogs of Phanaas and Pelshuphu chiwog.

The maize plants were in the stage of bearing tassel.  Maize is the staple crop for farmers in the affected chiwogs.

Farmers suspect the force of the local deities dwelling on the mountain of Tsaenphu and Larjab above their settlement behind the disaster.

They claimed it is a ridam (strictly prohibited place to visit hillside) season and no one is allowed to visit those places. “But some people had visited Tsaenphu and Larjab recently.”

Villagers said they had a similar incident in the past affecting only them, when nothing has happened to the rest of the gewog. “It’s a clear sign that the local deities are angry,” a villager from Pelshuphu said.

With the assessment completed recently, gewog officials are yet to submit the report to the dzongkhag disaster section.

Similarly, dzongkhag disaster focal person has received reports of minor farm road blockages in two gewogs, which are yet to be cleared.

Meanwhile, Department of Road’s regional office in Lingmethang, Mongar, has cleared the multiple roadblocks and landslides between Namling and Latong caused by heavy rainfall on the night of July 9.

Edited by Tashi Dema