THIMPHU: Of the 34 people in upper Haa town who were made homeless by a fire on November 18, 22 have moved in with friends and relatives as of yesterday evening. The 34 people were temporarily sheltered in the royal Bhutan army’s officers’ mess, after the fire gutted three houses and partially burnt another on the afternoon of November 18. The fire left homeless 11 families, most of whom lost all their belongings.

“Most of the people affected were working in the Haa dzongkhag administration and other regional offices,” said Haa dzongda Karma Weizer.

Food and lodging for the victims is being arranged by the Gyelpoi Zimpon’s office and the dzongkhag administration.

The owners of the houses that were gutted have built two temporary sheds with the help of locals and the dzongkhag administration. “The dzongkhag administration will take care of the 12 that are still occupying the officers’ mess,” said the Haa dzongda. “Most of them were tenants and don’t have relatives nearby.”

The 11 families also received Nu 15,000 each and essentials like utensils, blankets and clothing from His Majesty on the night of the fire.

“I’m thankful to His Majesty for the immediate relief,” said Karma, who lost everything in the fire. Her sister, who had gone to Phuentsholing to attend a workshop, also lost all her belongings in the fire. Her apartment was locked when the fire broke out.

“I lost my shop and all my family belongings,” said Rekhi, whose house was gutted by the fire. Rekhi, a former gup, was at Paro when the fire broke out. Rekhi, who was building a temporary hut for his family, said he lost more than Nu 300,000 in cash alone to the fire.

A grocery, a garment and a general store were among the seven shops gutted by the fire. The assessment on property damaged is yet to be done. “It’ll take a few days to get a clear assessment,” said the Haa dzongda. The cause of the fire is also being investigated.

The RBA has also been asked to help the victims and submit an assessment of the fire tragedy to the Gyalpoi Zimpon’s office after one week.