The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The devastating floods that occurred on 4th and 5th October 2025 left behind extensive damage to various critical national infrastructure.
The Department of Surface Transport (DoST), Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MoIT), carried out a detailed on-site assessment and identified a total of 19 bridges affected. While some bridges remain structurally sound with only minor damages, others have been completely washed away and will require full replacement.
Similarly, four road sections have sustained severe damage and have been entirely cut off, necessitating urgent restoration interventions.
The flood event, driven by unprecedented rainfall and increased river discharges, washed away several major road structures and bridges. The most severe impacts were observed in Chukha, Haa, Dagana, Samtse and Sarpang.
The flood has severed crucial lifelines across the affected the five dzongkhags.
The preliminary total estimate for the comprehensive recovery effort stands at Nu 533.5 mn. The MoIT has proposed for Nu 350 mn be utilized within the current financial year (2025–2026) for immediate restoration works.
Meanwhile, an estimated cost of Nu 183.5 mn is planned for the forthcoming financial year (2026–2027) to cover permanent reconstruction.
The financial requirements for these essential restoration activities exceed the budgetary provisions available within DoST, MoIT. Consequently, MoIT plans to seek financial support from the Ministry of Finance through the Disaster Restoration Fund to facilitate both immediate access restoration and permanent reconstruction.
Chukha
The collapse of the 200 feet Tomichu Bailey bridge on Ganglakha–Dungna road severely impacted access for the residents of Dungna (approximately 150 households and 1,500 people) and Metakha Gewogs (96 households and 967 people), which rely on the crossing for access to schools and Basic Health Units (BHUs).
The 110 m Lubichu Bailey bridge, on Totokgom farm road under Bjachhog Gewog, was also completely washed away, cutting off access to Totokgom village (18 households and population of 230) and served as the only access to Dagala Gewog under Thimphu.
Since the bridge was a critical lifeline for the communities of Totokgom and Dagala. With its collapse, these areas are now completely cut off.
The flood washed away the 120 feet Bjimichu Bailey bridge on Baeyul Kinzang Farm Road under Bongo Gewog, along with the right bank abutment.
The road provides vital access to Baeyul Kinzang village, which comprises approximately 80 households, a population of 1,800 and the bridge served as a critical link for the community, and its collapse has significantly disrupted connectivity.
The villagers rely on orange production for their livelihoods and until the bridge is restored, transportation and income generation will be severely affected.
The 150 feet Pachu-Lingden Bailey Bridge on Lingden Farm Road in Phuntsholing Gewog was completely washed away.
The road provides vital access to 263 households of Lingden Chiwog under Phuentsholing Gewog and 63 households of Chimuna Chiwog under Logchina Gewog. Both Chiwogs have schools and Primary Health Centres (PHCs), which rely on this bridge for access.
The bridge is located along the route proposed to connect Denchukha Gewog in Samtse via Damji village under Lingden Chiwog, Phuentsholing Gewog.
The flood also damaged the foundation wall on the left bank of the 108 meter Wangchhu Suspension Trail Bridge under Darla Gewog. Even the superstructure is in a deteriorated state, with signs of slipped cables and loose bolts and nuts, posing serious safety risks.
Following the collapse of the Bjmichu Bridge, this pedestrian bridge has become a critical lifeline for the community. It spans the Wangchhu river, and is primarily used by locals for transporting goods, especially for carrying oranges on horseback.
Another bridge, the 150 feet Melamchu Bailey bridge was completely washed away. The bridge is located on the Dungna- Metakha dzongkhag road. The bridge served as a vital connection for Metakha Gewog which has a population of 967.
The flood has caused minor scoring damage on the Amochhu Bridge on Phuentsholing-Amochhu PNH near the arch abutments on the left bank. Because of the scour, the bearing ground has been damaged in front of the arch abutments and led to formation of cavities.
Samtse
The 150 feet Namchukhola Bailey bridge on Haa-Samtse highway has been washed off by flood. As a result, Haa-Samtse highway is cut off.
The 400 feet Denchukha Bailey Suspension Bridge (BSB) on the Denchukha dzongkhag road was washed away.
In absence of the bridge, the gewog remains completely cut-off from rest of the dzongkhag. The gewog has 608 households.
While the existing abutments are intact, relaunching of BSB is not recommended by DoST owing to its limited load carrying capacity and need for frequent maintenance.
Moreover, as the river bed has significantly risen up, it is vulnerable to getting washed out in the future. The estimated cost for permanent works, which include a new Bailey bridge and 3 km of new road construction is Nu 120 mn.
The four Jitti Bridges A, B, C and D and a culvert located over Jitti river on Samtse-Sipsu SNH were also damaged by the flood.
Meantime, river water to Jitti A and D channels were diverted creating a by-pass on the downstream side. This has provided temporary road connectivity.
The 150 feet Kuchi Daina Bridge on Samtse-Sipsu highway damaged by the floods will see fresh construction.
Haa
The 110 feet Sheychhu Bridge on Khamina–Sombaykha dzongkhag road was completely washed away.
The 80 feet Sochhu Bridge on Khamina–Sombaykha Dzongkhag Road needs some restoration works.
The Haa-Samtse highway between Gynazam to Gakiling Dungkhag has been washed away for a road length of almost 300 m. Gyna River has changed its course and all the sediments were accumulated near the bridge. It is risky for the vehicles to pass through this stretch and is not all at all trafficable. The road will have to be realigned.
Dagana
The 80 feet Samarchu Bailey Bridge on Dorona dzongkhag road underwent severe scouring with the formation of a cavity beneath the left abutment.
The 30 feet Samarchu RC Bridge on Dagapela-Lhamoizingkha SNH saw partial damage to the upstream wing walls and cavity formation beneath approach slabs was observed on both banks.
The 90 m Sampang (Kalikhola) Steel Truss Bridge on Raidak-Lhamoizingkha highway saw partial damage to the gabion wall towards the left bank. A high sediment deposit was also observed around the bridge, which has decreased the freeboard.
Dagaepla-Lhamoizingkha highway (near Dharay Chu Bridge at chainage 46.10 km) saw the entire road width of around 200 m being washed away by swollen Samarchu river with active toe scouring. Currently, the road is restored by filling but it is risky for the vehicles to pass through this stretch.
The Dagaepla-Lhamoizingkha highway (between Samarchu Bridge and Nirkhola Bridge at chainage 41.40 km saw the entire road width of around 300 m washed away with active toe scouring by the Samarchu river with huge landslides on the hillside.
Currently, the road has been made trafficable by clearing the slides and hillside cutting. However, the road stretch is risky for the users.
Sarpang
The Gelephu–Trongsa PNH (Ossey Bypass Road) suffered landslides, with instability posing a high hazard to the existing road.
Considering instability of the slope and high hazard for stability of the existing road across landslide area, it is recommended by DoST for a proposed 1.50 km realignment of the road to bypass the unstable slope.
The immediate assessment works were carried out by four teams mobilized by the MoIT where the MoIT Minister, MoIT Secretary, Director General and Bridge Division were also part of the team. They were joined by the Members of Parliament (MPs) from the affected constituencies, MPs from National Council, Dzongdags from concerned dzongkhags, officials from regional offices, DoST, Dzongkhag Administrations and Local Government representatives.
While restoration of bridges along farm roads will be undertaken by the respective Dzongkhag Administrations, DoST is focused on essential repairs for critical highways and major regional roads.
While restoring immediate access to cut-off communities and gewogs remains the highest priority, DoST is also prioritizing the immediate need to plan and construct durable, climate-resilient infrastructure to reduce vulnerability to future disasters as part of the permanent restoration works.
