Shipgyer Monastery sustains major damage, villagers begin protective works

MANGAN, 29 SEPT:  The Ship Kunzang Choling Monastery at Shipgyer-Ramom GPU has suffered major damage due to the 18 September earthquake. Readers would recall that a Shipgyer resident who walked to Mangan and reached Gangtok recently, had brought horror stories of the Sunday night destruction at the village, the road to which was cleared for light vehicles [with four-wheel drive power] only today.
The “Zangdo Palri” (dome) on top of the monastery here has collapsed, damaging the entire structure, destroying statues housed inside and leaving the four huge pillars of the monastery cracked.
A total of 15 surrounding houses - “Thasyap” - of the monastery have developed major cracks running clear through the walls. Some of the walls have collapsed and a house has visibly tilted in the monastery complex.
Among the damage suffered by the monastery are also two chortens in the complex which have collapsed.
Till the fateful Sunday night, the residents of Shipgyer were preparing for the inauguration of the two-storey Sheda building, with only the power and water supply left to be installed. This building too has been severely affected and has tilted.
One floor of the additional RCC structure of the monastery collapsed during the earthquake, damaging the community centre where the Sheda was housed.
Even as the village too has sustained major damage, the villagers have set aside their personal losses and assembled at the monastery to begin temporarily protection works immediately to protect it from further damage. The young, old, women and children have all contributed to this task.
Speaking to NOW!, Panchayat President Yeshey Lepcha informed that the monastery was last renovated in the year 1982. He further informed that no one in the village was killed or seriously injured in the earthquake and this has increased faith in the monastery among the people, hence the immediate priority given to protecting the monastery. 
The several houses in the village have suffered extensive damage and the land has developed deep cracks which has everyone worried.