A Tragic news: Lost seven lives

July 27: In a tragic accident, seven boys have been washed away by a stream below the Chhukha Dam site early this morning. The incident occurred at around 4.30 am. All of them were students of Tshimalakha Secondary School. Five of them were studying in class eight. One was studying in the 6th standard and another in the 4th standard. A search team comprising of RBA, RBP and CHPC personnel, Dzongkhag staff, family members and the public are still looking for the bodies. There were eight boys all in all. The river was small when they crossed it earlier during the day. They saw that the water level was rising ominously when they were returning. One of the boys however managed to escape by swimming. Tshering Samden, the boy who managed to escape said he informed some of the parents by around 9 pm last night. The parents then immediately rushed to the site. The Chhukha Dzongda Tshewang Rinzin told BBS that despite all the efforts they could not rescue the children and had to helplessly watch as they were washed away. One of the parents said they could do nothing but watch as the children were washed away by the river. This morning, the Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley informed the parliament about the tragic incident. A special prayer ceremony was conducted for the victims at the Tashichhodzong today. The Moenlem was presided over by Lam Daw Gyeltshen and 270 monks of the Zhung Dratshang. The prayer ceremony was attended by Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley, cabinet ministers, the opposition leader, parliamentarians and other senior government officials. They offered Karmi Tongchoe for the victims. Retrieved on 28/7/2009 from http://www.bbs.com.bt/Seven%20boys%20washed%20away%20in%20Chhukha-Printer%20Friendly.html, Seven boys washed away in Chhukha.