𝐋𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐡𝐚 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞

…𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑲𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝑳𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒊𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒌𝒉𝒂, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑵𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒖𝒍𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒆 𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒆𝒔

By Kezang Choden

In the remote corners of Dagana Dzongkhag, three gewogs Lhamoizingkha, Karmaling, and Nichula are grappling with severe infrastructure challenges that have turned their daily lives into an ongoing battle against nature. These communities, located within Lhamoizingkha Drungkhag, are vulnerable during the monsoon season when the already deteriorating roads become nearly impassable, and swollen rivers cut off vital connections to the outside world.

Lhamoizingkha Drungkhag, responsible for the governance of these three gewogs, is expected to provide adequate infrastructure to support its residents. However, the reality on the ground is starkly different. The roads in these gewogs are in such poor condition that even local travel is fraught with difficulty.

During the peak of the monsoon season, the roads become indistinguishable from the rivers, rendering any form of transportation impossible. The Labrang River and Khanew Khola (river) in Karmaling Gewog, Sitibagar River marking the boundary between Karmaling and Lhamoizingkha Gewog, and the Jamuney River in Nichula Gewog are all crucial waterways that shape the lives of the residents. While these rivers are essential sources of water and resources, they also pose significant challenges, especially during the monsoon when they swell and overflow.

The residents of Karmaling and Nichula gewogs face a daily struggle against the harsh realities of their environment. The seasonal flooding, erosion, and constant threat of landslides have created hazardous living conditions, damaging the limited infrastructure and leaving communities isolated with minimal access to essential services.

For the 326 households in Karmaling and 176 households in Nichula, the isolation is more than just an inconvenience it is a matter of survival.

Despite the primary road being blacktopped from Dagapela to Dhalbari village in Karmaling Gewog, the seasonal rains continue to isolate these communities, cutting off access to essential services such as healthcare, banking, and utilities.
“We have a Basic Health Unit (BHU) in our gewog, but severe patients often need to be referred to Lhamoizingkha Gewog, which is approximately 7 kilometers away,” said Pema Norbu Sherpa, the Gup of Karmaling Gewog.
“The poor road conditions make it nearly impossible for residents to access these vital services, especially during the monsoon,” the Gup added.

The challenges faced by these gewogs are exacerbated during the monsoon season when roads become rivers, and the swollen streams create a barrier to essential services.
Residents of Nichula and Karmaling must travel to Lhamoizingkha for Drungkhag services, daily necessities, and medical emergencies, but the rivers often obstruct these vital activities.
“For new road users unfamiliar with these streams, their vehicles often get stuck when the rivers flood,” said Surja Bahadur Limboo, the Gup of Lhamoizingkha Gewog.

The local administration is acutely aware of the situation, and the affected gewogs have raised their concerns with the relevant authorities. As the 13th Five Year Plan approaches, there is hope that measures will be taken to address and mitigate these challenges, ensuring safer and more reliable access to essential services for all residents.
The frequent flooding of the four major rivers is a constant threat that disrupts access to essential services, and the residents of these gewogs are urging local authorities to prioritize road maintenance and the construction of a temporary motorable bridge to alleviate the severe challenges posed by monsoon flooding.

In Nichula Gewog, the situation is equally dire. The community, located approximately 12 kilometers from Lhamoizingkha Drungkhag, finds itself isolated when the water levels rise, cutting off foot travel entirely.
“The residents cannot move even by walking when the water level increases during the monsoon season,” said Nima Wangchuk Sherpa, the Gup of Nichula Gewog.

He added, “This isolation affects all aspects of life, but the lack of access to healthcare is the most concerning.”
In response to these challenges, the community has set up a temporary station and requested a Health Assistant (HA) from the Drungkhag to stay in Nichula Gewog for one to two months at a time.
The HA’s stay often has to be extended depending on the number of patients and the severity of their conditions. This temporary solution, however, is far from ideal.

The Gup emphasized that the situation in Nichula Gewog highlights the urgent need for improved infrastructure and support to ensure that residents are not left without access to critical services during the challenging monsoon months.
As the monsoon season continues to wreak havoc on these isolated communities, the residents of Lhamoizingkha, Karmaling, and Nichula gewogs anxiously await the implementation of crucial infrastructure projects.

The maintenance of roads and the construction of a temporary motorable bridge are not just improvements they are lifelines that could dramatically improve the quality of life for the people in these areas. These projects, expected to be funded under the 13th Five Year Plan, are vital for improving connectivity and access to essential services.
Until these measures are implemented, the residents of Lhamoizingkha Drungkhag will continue to battle the elements, isolated from the services and support they so desperately need.
The call for action has been made now it is up to the authorities to respond before the next monsoon season turns these challenges into a crisis.