‘Rimbi may remain uninhabitable given the scale of destruction’

KUSH HANG LEEWANG

GEYZING, : The landslide and flash flood at Rimbi in Gyalshing district has intensified, with the active slide taking a new course and entering the village on Thursday night. The landslide, which first began on August 13, has caused significant damage to properties, with two houses completely washed away.

Singlitam village, located on a steep hill above Rimbi, is also gradually sinking.

What began as small patches of landslides in the first week of August in Singlitam, a village with around 10-12 households, has now expanded alarmingly in size. The possible collapse of parts of Singlitam village and the submergence or burial of Rimbi village under mud and debris brought down by recurring flash floods and landslide from the unstable Singlitam hillock cannot be ruled out if the region continues to experience intense and prolonged rainfall.

Due to incessant rainfall over the past two days, flash floods and mudslides chocked the Mit Khola (stream) above Rimbi, forcing the stream to change its course and flow through the main residential areas of the village, damaging several private properties and public infrastructure.

The Thursday night’s flash flood has left a trail of devastation in Rimbi village.

While the two houses were completely destroyed, several other houses in Rimbi have suffered extensive damage and require major restoration and rehabilitation efforts. “Even if the rainfall subsides, landslides cease and the dry season sets in, Rimbi may still remain uninhabitable given the scale of destruction the village has suffered,” said an affected resident.

Another resident remarked that losing his village was not only the loss of a place to live, but also the loss of his identity and legacy.

According to the officials of Power department, a departmental guest house and four staff quarters were completely destroyed in the flash flood, along with important documents and furniture. Officials stated that historical documents and records preserved since 1993 were also lost in the disaster.

“Apart from infrastructure established during the tenure of former Chief Minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari, the Power department has also lost historical documents and records that had been safely preserved since 1993 in the flash flood,” an official said.

Entire Rimbi village has gone desolate as all the residents have taken shelter either at government facilitated relief camp set up at nearby Gram Prashasan Kendra or in their relatives' houses located nearby, particularly at Darap.

“We have no option but to abandon our houses to safety. We still believe that the government will come to our rescue,” said an affected resident.

The extent of damage to property and livestock will be assessed once relief teams are able to access the affected area, subject to prevailing weather conditions, the government said.

Minister-cum-area MLA Tshering T. Bhutia along with Land Revenue and Disaster Management secretary-cum-relief commissioner Rinzing Chewang Bhutia, district collector Tenzing D. Denzongpa, other government officials and panchayat representatives visited the affected area today to assess the situation.

The secretary-cum-relief commissioner assured that immediate relief assistance would be provided to all affected families as per applicable provisions and norms. The administration is also making arrangements for short-term relief and necessary support, while properly facilitated relief camps will be provided for affected families wherever required, informs an IPR release.

Area MLA Tshering T. Bhutia assured the affected families of all necessary support from the State government. He said the Chief Minister had been apprised of the situation and had assured all necessary assistance from the State Government.

The minister also urged residents to remain vigilant and advised the public to avoid unnecessary movement during night hours, particularly in view of the prevailing landslide situation.

Officials also visited the designated relief camp and reviewed the arrangements being made for affected families.