Yesterday, on 9th March, at about 12:40 pm, a forest fire broke out from chenari, under samkhar gewog.

Nome Automobile Workshop located at Kheri below BOD belonging to Mr. Tobgay was completely burnt along with motor spare parts, tyres and machineries. One corona car and two Maruti 800cc belonging to Lam Rinchen, Cheki Dorji and a business man from Trashiyangtse along with about 25 nos. of scooters/bikes kept for repair were completely burnt in the fire.

One diesel car engine and door set removed for repair from Dzongkhag Hilux was also burnt. A canteen attached to Nome workshop run by Choden, 44/f was also completely burnt along with all households items.

A saw mill with construction materials, and the Eckra house fully furnished with household items, belonging to Mr. Tshering Wangdi, Contractor, S/o Late Chhimi from Nganglam under Samdrupjongkhar was also completely burnt along with construction materials, planks, logs etc.

No serious casualties has been occurred to human lives except Mr. Tenzin Dorji, 39/M of kheri village, who sustained minor burnt injury on the nose and left cheek when he tried to fight fire near his house and he was brought to Trashigang Hospital for treatment.

Fortunately, in the midst of the fire, the fire fighters managed to save the BOD, located at Kheri, which if caught fire, could have led to bizarre consequences, since it was stocked with LPG cylinders. However, the cylinders were relocated to safe places before the fire reached the site.

Moreover, the fire fighters also managed to prevent the fire from spreading towards the Dzong, and as such, it doesn’t pose any danger to the Dzong.

Civil servants, RBP, RBA, business communities, public, and students of Sherubtse College were involved in controlling the fire. The laborers of DANTAK also assisted in fighting the fire.

Besides the human effort, the fire fighting truck of RBP, a tanker from DANTAK, and Municipal Cesspool cleaner tanker were all deployed to control the fire.

The Gewog Administration, public of Rangshikhar and Kanglung, including Sherubtse College, has been put on alert, to watch out for the fire and evacuate in time.

As commanded by His Majesty the King, the Dzongkhag Administration, in coordination with the Office of Gyalpoi Zimpon Office based in Mongar immediately issued UNICEF Emergency kits and rations to the affected families.

However, the cause of the fire is still unknown and the officials are still investigating the cause.