Kuensel Reports on Access Challenges Affecting Riti and Jigmecholing
22 July 2026
Recent reporting in Kuensel, Bhutan's national newspaper, has highlighted the infrastructure challenges affecting access to Jigmecholing and nearby Monpa communities during the monsoon season.
On 12 July 2026, the bridge providing access to the Monpa village of Riti, referred to as Ritey in the Kuensel article, was washed away by flooding caused by heavy monsoon rain. A temporary footbridge was later constructed, but the article reports continued concerns among residents about the need for a more durable bridge.
A second Kuensel article, published on 15 July 2026, reported on difficult road conditions along the Gelephu–Trongsa highway, especially around the landslide-prone Boxcut area. Jigmecholing serves as an important access point to the Monpa villages of Riti and Cungseng, where Lo-Rig project member Tshering Om Tamang conducts linguistic fieldwork.
These reports help illustrate the precarious infrastructure connecting remote communities in Bhutan and the practical challenges involved in conducting linguistic fieldwork in such areas.
The articles are available online through Kuensel: