Torrential overnight rainfall left a trail of destruction across Phuentshogling yesterday, displacing more than 70 families, damaging homes and infrastructure, and cutting off key transport routes. Authorities evacuated affected residents to temporary shelters and schools as floodwaters inundated several low-lying areas.
The worst devastation was reported in Chamkuna along the Amochhu, where floodwaters once again overwhelmed the National Housing and Development Corporation Limited (NHDCL) colony. Following heavy rainfall around midnight, water levels rose rapidly and surged into residential areas at approximately 1 AM, forcing families to abandon their homes with little warning.
A one-storey building used as a canteen was swept away by the flood, while ground floors of residential buildings were submerged, destroying furniture, appliances, and other household belongings. In several buildings, even first floors were affected by the rising water. An excavator deployed by the NHDCL for flood-control work was buried under debris, and nearby buildings under construction sustained extensive damage.
Officials confirmed that no injuries or fatalities were reported. Heavy machinery has since been deployed to redirect the river’s flow in an effort to prevent additional flooding and protect nearby residential areas.
The Amochhu Temporary Settlement was also severely affected. More than 30 families were evacuated by officials from the Thromde, assisted by the Royal Bhutan Police, after floodwaters entered homes shortly after midnight. Many residents escaped with only the essentials, leaving behind personal belongings and vehicles that were later submerged.
“It was around midnight when water started entering our house,” said resident Sonam Dorji. “We had no time to save anything. I only managed to pack some clothes for my children before rushing out. I barely got out of my car, and families with young children escaped by the narrowest of margins.”
Another resident, Rajesh Sunar, described waking to an alarming scene. “My wife woke me up around midnight. By then, water was everywhere. We rushed out immediately and couldn’t take any of our belongings—not even clothes for our children. We are now staying temporarily at a school.”
The heavy rainfall also caused major disruptions to transportation across the region. Landslides above the town blocked the Phuentshogling–Thimphu Highway until around noon, while the Phuentshogling–Samtse Highway remained closed at Chamkuna. The bypass road linking Phuentshogling and Rinchending was also shut after sections of the roadway were washed away, disrupting the movement of commuters and vehicles.
Flooding along the Pemaling bypass caused further losses after a swollen stream swept away nearly 70 percent of approximately 1,300 LPG cylinders stored in the area, compounding the damage caused by the disaster.
Authorities continue to monitor water levels and assess the extent of the damage as recovery efforts remain underway.
