𝐆𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡

…𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒚 𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒚𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒔

By Kezang Choden

Gakiling Gewog under Haa Dzongkhag continues to struggle with major road disruptions following the heavy rainfall on October 4, 2025, and the impact of Cyclone Montha later that month. The unexpected disasters caused widespread damage across the gewog, cutting off both internal and external routes and leaving the community dependent on emergency interventions. The Haa–Samtse highway, the Gewog Centre road, and several farm roads were completely blocked after a series of landslides and flash floods.

According to gewog officials, clearing the blocks requires hiring excavators and JCB machines. Continuous operation of these machines depends on the timely supply of fuel, which becomes impossible when the main highway is cut off from both the Haa and Samtse sides. In such cases, the gewog can only wait for external agencies to reopen the road.
A stretch near Sangbaykha Drungkhag on the Haa side was recently cleared and reopened to traffic on November 11, 2025, offering some relief to residents. However, the blocks along the Samtse side remain uncleared. One chiwog continues to be entirely isolated because its farm road passes through Denchukha Gewog under Samtse Dzongkhag. Gakiling Gewog officials stated that connectivity can only be restored once Denchukha authorities clear the blocks up to the boundary. The gewog is closely following up on the matter.

The damage has placed significant financial pressure on the gewog. Without additional disaster-related budget support from the government, much of the capital budget will need to be diverted to clearing roadblocks and repairing infrastructure damaged by the floods and landslides. Local leaders fear that this will affect planned development activities for the year.

Wang Tshering, Gup of Gakiling Gewog, expressed concern over the gewog’s ability to achieve the mandatory 60 percent expenditure target by the end of March 2026. Officials warned that failing to meet the target could directly affect the capital budget allocated to Gakiling in the next financial year. Authorities highlighted the difficulties faced by rural gewogs, where frequent natural disasters and persistent road challenges make timely spending a major hurdle. They stressed that applying the same standards used for more developed areas is unfair and could further disadvantage rural communities.

“There is a real risk that if such policies remain unchanged, rural gewogs will fall further behind, widening the development gap over time,” he added.

The Gup of the Gewog highlighted that local farmers are anxiously waiting for the roads to be cleared to transport their produce, including cardamom and oranges, to nearby markets. The disruption has significantly affected at least 65 households, preventing them from selling their crops and earning much-needed income. While some farmers have managed to find alternative ways to transport their produce, the majority continue to face considerable challenges.

The Gup emphasized that timely road restoration is crucial not only for the immediate sale of crops but also for sustaining the livelihoods of these farming families, who heavily rely on agriculture as their main source of income.
In Tanga village, residents who rely solely on cardamom cultivation are expressing concern over potential losses as road blockages threaten timely access to markets. Pema Gyeltshen, a local farmer from Tanga village, said that delayed transportation could result in lower prices for cardamom, directly impacting household incomes. Gyeltshen, who cultivates cardamom on five acres of land, described the situation as helpless, warning that he may face cash shortages and difficulty sustaining his family if the crop fails to reach markets on time.

“The road conditions are worsening, and there is a real risk that we may not get the expected price for our produce,” he said. He added that the challenges are not limited to cardamom farmers. Orange orchard owners in the village are also struggling due to the poor condition of the access roads, which delays transportation and affects the quality of perishable produce. Local authorities are reportedly working on clearing the roads, but residents remain anxious as the delay could threaten the economic stability of many households that depend entirely on agriculture.

“The ongoing road disruptions in Gakiling Gewog continue to strain both the community and local administration,” the Gup added. With key highways and farm roads blocked, farmers are unable to transport their crops, threatening incomes and livelihoods for dozens of households. The financial burden of repairing infrastructure and clearing roadblocks is putting additional pressure on the gewog’s budget, potentially affecting planned development activities. Local leaders stress that restoring connectivity is essential not only for immediate economic relief but also for the long-term stability and growth of the community. Until the roads are fully reopened, residents remain in a precarious situation, highlighting the urgent need for timely disaster response and sustained support for rural areas.