The Bhutanese Leading the way.
85-year-old grandfather, Choning Dorji, is among the survivors of the devastating Dechencholing flash flood that struck on 10 August 2024. The flood affected 23 huts in the area, forcing families to evacuate and find alternative shelters. While many families managed to recover their belongings, however, Choning’s hut attached to a grocery shop and belongings were completely washed away.
The family, consisting of seven members, has been displaced and struggling since the disaster. Their only source of income came from the small grocery shop run by his 57-year-old daughter.
The family is currently living in a rented house in Babena, Thimphu, but they have no means to sustain themselves, and have had to rely on relief funds from the Office of Gyalpoi Zimpoen (OGZ) and generous donations from the community.
Choning Dorji shared that his family can only afford to pay the house rent for another month, and he is worried about how they will manage afterwards.
He added, “The flood totally washed away our house, along with all our belongings. Apart from the clothes we were wearing, nothing could be saved. During such times, OGZ helped us by providing us shelter, food and clothing, I am really grateful to them. Subsequently, we were also given relief fund (Kidu). Everyone was leaving in search of shelter, and we started looking too. With seven members in the family, we had to look for 3bhk flat, and rents in the capital for such were above Nu 15,000. We found a house in Babena that was within our budget, but we have to worry about our long-term stay.”
“Until now, the burden of paying rent was never felt by us, as the government provided us the wooden house (Bago) for free give that our plot falls in the Dechencholing area and it could not be developed for years. When we moved into our new house, we had nothing to bring along with us. We had to buy all the essential household items. My worry is now paying the following months’ rent with no income, and the house owner chasing us if we fall short month after month,” Choning Dorji said.
He shared that he joined the Royal Bodyguard as driver when he was 19 years old in the early 1960s, and he retired in 1987. As a recognition for his service, he was given a land in Dechencholing. With no income, he has not been able to construct a house on the land.
He said his only hope is if the government could help his family in such difficult times.
He also said, “My only hope is if the government can provide us a house similar like the huts we were living. Even a small help would help us in such a situation. After the flood, no one has been following up on us, our living condition and how we are managing. We have been totally forgotten.”
He said the OGZ has done its part and now his request to the government is to provide him with a similar wooden Bago to avoid paying the high rent and to start their business again to earn an income.
Choning’s daughter shared that the family was barely managing to make ends meet from the shop, and she had invested about Nu 600,000 in the shop. After the flood washed away both their shop and home, they were left totally devasted.
“Before the flood incident, we were somehow managing as we didn’t have to pay the house rent and I was running the small grocery shop, which was our lifeline. We are now paying almost Nu 15,000 a month excluding the other household expenses. Nothing could be saved including the savings. Thankfully donations of staples and clothes by people have helped us navigate in this challenging period,” she added.
How the family managed to survive during the flood
The daughter shared her family’s harrowing experience, and the challenges they now face in its aftermath. Thankfully, all family members survived the incident, which she considers a blessing.
After fleeing the flood to a nearby construction site, they waited for the water to recede before attempting to cross. In the chaos, she realized she had forgotten about her father. Thankfully, he was safe, but she suffered significant injuries while rescuing him. Both she and her mother were later hospitalized at a nearby medical center.
“Meanwhile, my family and other families were given shelter in the RBG camp and were provided with food and clothing. After the flood subsided, I went to visit my family and at the same time everyone else started moving. We also started hunting for houses, only to find the rents high leaving us no other option then to adjust somehow,” the daughter said.
Her injury continues to cause her pain, so she is having her son drive her around while they search for other means to earn a living.
She shared her old parents are worrying everyday as no one in their family has a job, therefore no source of income to pay the house rent and provide for the family members.
She added, “I am worried my parents might fall into depression. My mother is struggling to sleep nowadays. I am trying on doing something, but with no budget its very hard to do anything in the capital.”
Although the family received land as government kidu, they are unable to build a house with no income. Choning Dorji’s family might be just one example of the many families requiring assistance.
