TIL BDR GHALLEY | Samtse
As the wet monsoon season gathers pace, residents of Gomtu in Samtse Dzongkhag are once again bracing for months of uncertainty, fearing isolation as swelling rivers and fragile road infrastructure threaten to cut the town off from the rest of the region.
Gomtu, located on the eastern edge of Samtse Dzongkhag and bordering West Bengal, lies between two rivers the Pagli River on one side and the Sukti River on the other. During the monsoon, both rivers rise rapidly, often disrupting road access and leaving residents struggling to reach essential services.
For many in the community, the rainy season brings recurring concerns. Robat Lepcha, gup of Phuentshopelri Gewog, said Gomtu often becomes nearly inaccessible during heavy rainfall due to the lack of permanent bridges across the rivers.
“During the monsoon, Gomtu almost goes into lockdown,” he said. “Because of heavy downpours and the lack of proper bridges, movement becomes extremely difficult and sometimes impossible. Although a proposal has already been submitted for the construction of a bridge over the Pagli River, the project has yet to be finalized.”
The terrain in the area is very challenging, with hilly landscapes and frequent landslides during the summer months, making infrastructure development and maintenance difficult.
Despite these challenges, Robat Lepcha said some mitigation measures are underway through the construction of the gewog connectivity road, being carried out by the Department of Surface Transport.
“The construction of the gewog connectivity road along the Sukti side is currently ongoing,” he said. “The work is expected to provide some relief to residents, particularly during the monsoon season when connectivity often becomes difficult. However, it is not a complete solution.”
For residents, the lack of reliable infrastructure means that travel during the monsoon can be extremely complicated. In some cases, people are forced to travel through India to reach other parts of Bhutan.
“Because of the lack of proper connectivity, we often have to travel through India,” gup said. “This creates many inconveniences for our people.”
Residents say these detours add both time and uncertainty to journeys that would otherwise take only a few hours.
Tashi Phuentsho, 38, a resident of Gomtu, said the community lives with constant worry during the rainy season.
“Every monsoon we are anxious about whether we will remain connected or not,” he said. “If the rivers rise suddenly, the roads become unsafe and travelling becomes risky. When roads are disrupted, supplies cannot reach the town easily. Prices increase and small businesses suffer because transport becomes unreliable.”
Pema Lhamo, 30, said the uncertainty also affects families whose children study or work outside Gomtu.
“Parents worry when their children have to travel during the rainy season,” she said. “Sometimes the rivers rise suddenly, leaving commuters stranded. We have been facing this problem for many years. Every monsoon we hear about plans and discussions, but people are still waiting for permanent solutions.”
Beyond travel and economic challenges, access to healthcare remains one of the most pressing concerns during the monsoon.
Dr. Priyanka Mukhia, a general medical officer at Gomtu Hospital, said the rainy season often brings an increase in patients while making emergency referrals far more difficult.
“As the rainy season starts, we see more patients coming to the health facility,” she said. “But I am worried about how we will refer critical patients to other hospitals if the roads become inaccessible. Because Gomtu is geographically positioned between two rivers, sudden flooding can make it difficult to transport patients requiring specialized treatment. If someone requires urgent referral, the geography of the area becomes a serious challenge.”
She added that the situation creates significant pressure on health workers responsible for managing emergencies.
“In critical cases, every minute is important,” she said. “But during the monsoon, reaching referral hospitals can take much longer than it should.”
Although air evacuation is sometimes considered in extreme emergencies, doctor said the option is not always feasible due to unpredictable weather.
“Airlifting patients is also challenging during the monsoon because weather conditions are often not suitable,” she said. “This makes emergency management even more difficult.”
Residents say the recurring challenges faced by the Gomtu community highlight the urgent need for stronger infrastructure, particularly permanent bridges and improved flood protection.
“We are not asking for luxury,” said Khandu Wangmo, 50. “We just want safe roads and bridges so that our community does not feel cut off every monsoon.”
As dark monsoon clouds gather over the hills and rivers begin to swell, residents of Gomtu say they can only hope the coming months pass without severe flooding or prolonged isolation.
Until permanent infrastructure is built, the community remains at the mercy of the rivers that surround it.
