Disclaimer
This report was compiled by an ADRC visiting researcher (VR) from ADRC
member countries.
The views expressed in the report do not necessarily reflect the views ofthe ADRC. The boundaries and names shown and the designations usedon the maps in the report also do not imply official endorsement or
acceptance by the ADRC.

KUZUZANGPOOHAYO GOZAIMASU

Contents
 Introduction: Bhutan Hazards in Bhutan DM Institutions and Structure Financial Arrangement
 Underlying Vulnerabilities
 Challenges
 Future Priorities
 Research Plan

Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs

1Introduction: Bhutan

2Culture and Tradition

3

Ministry of Home & Cultural Affairs
Royal Government of Bhutan
Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu
http://www.mohca.gov.bt

Overview of Disaster Management System
EARTHFIRE

AIRWATER

4HAZARDS IN BHUTAN

1. Earthquakes
2. Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF)
3. Floods/Flash floods
4. Landslides
5. Forest/Structural fires
6. Windstorms
7. Thunderstorms/ Hailstorms/Droughts
Artificial Dam formation
8. Epidemics, Pests & Diseases

Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs

EARTHQUAKEHigh risk
 Seismic Zone IV or V
High likelihood of a majorEarthquake

21st September, 2009 Mongar Earthquake Magnitude: 6.1 (10 km)
 Time: 2:53 PM
 12 People killed
18th September, 2011 (Sikkim Earthquake) Magnitude : 6.9 (19.7 km)
 Time: 6:41 PM

Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs

5GLACIAL LAKE OUTBURST FLOOD• 677 Glaciers & 2,794 Glacier Lakes• 25 glacier lakes potentially dangerous• 21 outburst cases in Bhutan (SATREPS Project, 2012)• 17 events between 19th century and the 1970s• 4 cases of outburst in the last 40 years

Ministry of Home and Cultural AffairsGLACIAL LAKE OUTBURST FLOOD

Lemthang Tsho: Before GLOF

Source: Google photo: Sebastian Kammer, May 2015

Lemthang Tsho: After GLOF
28th June 2015
Lemthang GLOF, Laya

Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs

6Floods/Flash Floods
Recurrent EventEastern & Southern Regions are most vulnerable
Past events
 Phuentsholing & Pasakha – Year 2000
Eastern Bhutan – Year 2004 (9 people lost lives)
Cyclone Aila – Year 2009 flood (12 People lost lives)
July 2016 (Phuentsholing & Sarpang)

Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs

II. Loss and Damage (Cyclone Aila)• 12 lives lost•
••••
•
•

Govt. Infrastructure – Nu. 544 M
Farm and feeder roads – Nu. 47 M
Agriculture property – Nu. 7.5 M
Bridges – Nu. 56 M
Drinking water/ Irrigation – Nu. 45 M
Livestock – Nu. 15 M
Private Properties – Nu. 7 M• Total –Nu. 722 Million

7Artificial Dam Formation

Tshati chhu artificial lake (33 million m3),
above Autsho, Lhuentse

Lake burst (Kuri chhu Dam)

8Landslides
 Masses of rock, earth, or debris moving down a slope,
may be very small or very large, can move at very highspeed.
 Associated with heavy rainfall, tend to worsen the effectsof flooding that often accompanies these events.
 In areas burnt by forest fires, a lesser amount ofprecipitation may initiate landslides.
 Other triggers: Earthquakes, poor land management• Eastern & southern region- vulnerable• Example: Ossay & Rewtala

Roadblock by Landslide

The Takti roadblock is probably the biggest on the highway in recent years

9Landslides

Jumja landslide

Moshi, Wamrong landslideFIRES ON FOREST & HUMAN SETTLEMENT

Forest fires
 Annual event
 Majority of fire events are caused by humans

Fires on Human Settlement
Unsafe habits electrical wiring
 temporary housing
Use of wood

Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs

10Fires on Forest

Forest fire above Trashigang town

Fire on Human Settlement

Structural fire at Yangthang, Haa (Feb 6,2002)

11

12

Other hazards
Windstorms/ Thunderstorms/ Hailstorms/Droughts
Epidemics, Pests & Diseases

Department of Disaster Management

13Organogram of DDM

DISASTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (DM ACT 2013)
National Disaster Management Authority

MOHCA (Vice-Chair)

Department ofDisaster Management

Notified Agencies
and Private Sector
National Emergency
Operation Centre

Inter-Ministerial
Task Force

DisasterManagement Unit

Dzongkhag Disaster Management Committee
Dzongkhag Disaster
Management Officer
Dzongkhag Emergency
Operation Centre

ThromdeDisaster Management
Sub-Committee

Gewog
Disaster Management
Sub-Committee

DungkhagDisaster Management
Sub-Committee
Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs

14Institutional Provisions
As per the Disaster Management Act 2013
•
••
•••
•
••

Composition
Prime Minister (ex Officio Chair)
National Disaster
Home Minister
Management Authority(NDMA)
Finance Minister
SecretariesGyalpoi Zimpon
Head, NECS
President, BCCIHead, DDM
Others as may be co-opted according to DM Act
Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs

Roles & Responsibilities: NDMA Approve Disaster Management (DM)strategies,policies, plans, guidelines, procedures.
 Allocate DM related funds.
 Direct agencies to mainstream DRR into policies,plans and programmes.
 Implement the DM Act.
 Ensure formation of Inter-Ministerial Task Force.

15

Institutional Provisions

Inter-Ministerial Task Force (IMTF)
Comprised of technical experts from relevant agencies.
Responsibilities

 Review hazard zonation & vulnerability map and structural & nonstructural measures.
 Review disaster risk reduction and disaster management activities.
 Review national standard, guideline and standard operatingprocedure for disaster management.
 Provide necessary technical assistance in the preparation of Disaster
Management & contingency Plan, where necessary.
 Advise relevant agency in setting up critical Disaster ManagementFacilities.
Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs

Institutional Provisions
DDMC constitution
•••
•
•••
•
•

Dzongda as Chairperson
Dzongrab as Vice Chair
Dzongkhag Kidu OfficerChairperson, Dzongkhag Tshogdu
All Gups
Thrompon/Thromde Thuemi
Superintendent, RBP
Drungchen, Zhung Dratshag /Rabdey
Dzongkhag Disaster Management
Officer (DDMO)

Dzongkhag DisasterManagement
Committee (DDMC)• Others as may be co-opted as per DM
Act
Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs

16Roles & Responsibilities: DDMC
 Prepare and implement DM and Contingency Plans.
 Ensure establishment and functioning of Critical DM facilities.
 Ensure mainstreaming of DRR into local development plans &programmes.
 Ensure compliance of structural and non-structural measures.
 Ensure communication of hazard/disaster events to DDM andNDMA.
 Ensure assessment, reporting, education, awareness andcapacity building.

Roles & Responsibilities of Sectors/Agencies

 Chapter 6, Section 66 of DM Act 2013; “Every agency
including the private sector notified by the National
Disaster Management Authority shall institute a Disaster
Management Unit in its organization”.
 Section 67; An agency notified by the National Disaster
Management Authority shall; Prepare, implement, review & update Disaster
Management and Contingency Plan in accordance withthe guideline formulated under this Act; Put in place a plan that would reasonably ensure
continuity of critical services in the event of disaster;17Develop hazard zonation and vulnerability map including
structural and non-structural measures.

Ensure compliance of approved hazard zonation andvulnerability map.

Ensure compliance and monitor implementation of structuraland non-structural measures.

Ensure the establishment, functioning and maintenance ofCritical Disaster Management Facilities.

Provide assistance to Dzongkhag Disaster Management
committee, as and when required.

Perform such other function as may be prescribed under thisAct or any law in force or as directed by the National Disaster
Management Authority.

Incident Command System• National Level• Dzongkhag Level (District)• Dungkhag Level (Sub-District)• Gewog Level (Block)• Municipal Level

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National Disaster Response Coordination Committee at the NEOC

Army , De-Suung, BRCS

His Majesty’s Secretariat

National Disaster Response Commander:
HPM/Chair NDMA
(Assisted by the Cabinet Secretary)
Deputy: Home Minister (Vice-chair NDMA)(Assisted by the Home Secretary)

Inter-agency coordination /liaison and reporting byDDM

SAR Desk:
Chief ofPolice (RBP)

Medical Services
Desk: Secretary,MoH

Planning Desk:
Secretary, GNHC

Logistics Desk:
Secretary, MoAF

Early Warning &Monitoring Unit:
Flood: NCHM
Earthquake- DGM, MoEA
Forest Fire-DoFS, MoAF
Epidemics (Human)-MoH
Pandemics (Livestock)MoAF
Windstorm-NCHM
GLOF-NCHM

Situation/ Documentation
Unit: Chief, PRD, DDM

Supplies/Stockpiling Unit:
Food & Water:
MoAF
Emergency
Shelter: DHS,
MoWHS
MedicalSupplies: MoH
EquipmentMoWHS

Information
Communication &Transportation Desk:
Secretary, MoIC

Information Unit

Communication
Services: DITT,
Bhutan Telecom& Tashi Cell

Immediate Restoration of
Essential Public Services
Desk:
Roads & BridgesSecretary, MoWHS
Power Supply-BPC
TeleCommunication-BTL,
TashiComm
Drinking water supplySecretary, MoH
Health FacilitiesSecretary, MoH
Schools- Secretary, MoE

Finance
Desk:
Secretary,
MoF

International
Assistance
Desk:
Secretary,
MoFA

Transportation
Services:
RSTA

GIS Unit: CGIS, NLCS
Resource Tracking
Unit: Chief, RPRD,
DDM

District Level

19

Sub District Level

Block Level

20

Municipal Level

Existing stockpiles at Phuentsholing, Gelephu & Trashigang
Sl.
No.
1Description of the items

Total

Tent; light weight, rectangular, 42m2 Box A (1of 2), Box (2 of 2)

6 boxes

2First Aid kit A

3

3

Water tank collapsible, 5000l, w/dist.kit

1

4

Basic family water kit for 10 families

20

5Squatting plates

16

6Winterised tent

21/19

Remarks21

SAR Team22

Classification of Disaster Type I, II & III
A disaster shall be classified as Type I, if it;a. Affects a Thromde(s) or Gewog(s) or any part thereof,
b. Can be managed with available resources of the Thromde/Gewog.
A disaster shall be classified as Type II, if it;a. Affects a Dzongkhag as whole or in part or more than one
Dzongkhag,b. Can be managed with available resources of the Dzongkhag(s).
A disaster shall be classified as Type III, if it;a. It affects the Nation as a whole or in part,b. Severity and magnitude is so great that it is beyond available
resources of the affected Dzongkhag(s).

Financial Arrangement as per the DM Act 2013

 Budget for Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness: to bemainstreamed into Annual & Fiver Year Plans of theSectors/Dzongkhags.
 The DM Act 2013 provides DDMCs with the authority tomeet expenses for response & relief operations from theirannual budget.
 Guidelines already formulated jointly with the MoF.
 For the purpose of recovery and reconstruction, the Actspecifies DDMCs to carry out damage assessments of publicassets & infrastructure and submit assessment and costestimates to DDM for review and onward submission toNDMA.
Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs

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UNDERLYING VULNERABILITIES

Poor/unsafe construction practices



Rapid and unplanned urbanization

Socio-economic factors



Remote settlement and fragile road networks

Inadequate level of awarenessLow levels of preparedness and response capacitiesVulnerability of key facilities (Schools, hospitals, communication facilities, othercritical infrastructures)

Inadequate of risk transfer mechanisms (insurance)

Environmental degradation

Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs

CHALLENGES

Increasing risks

Low institutional and technical capacities

Not all Dzongkhags/Sectors/Thromdes have Disaster Management
and Contingency Plans in place/Simulation Exercise conducted.

Insufficient mainstreaming of DRR and climate changeInsufficient multi-sectoral coordination



Lack of capacity and coordination to develop multi-hazard atlas

Inadequate budget for recovery and re-construction

Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs

24

Future Priorities Capacity building of DDMCs/ DDMOs
 National/ Sector/ Dzongkhag DM and Contingency Plans
 National SAR Training Centre/Urban SAR capacitiesmanpower and equipment
 EOCs in all 20 Dzongkhags and emergency communication
 Multi Hazard Atlas
 Incident Command System
Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs

Research PlanTitle: Comparative Study on District DM Contingency Planof Dagana and Japan
Objective:
1.To study Disaster Management system of Japan and how
the DRR is included in the District DM and Contingencyplan
2. To learn how Local government of Japan Implementing
the Local plan and Community Response

25

KADRNCHE
ARIGATO GOZAIMASU

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