Families in the Seraj region of Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, are urgently appealing to the state government for immediate rehabilitation following the devastating cloudbursts and flashfloods that struck the area on June 30. Several panchayats, including Kandi, Anah, Bada, Sharan, Thunag, and Syanj, have suffered severe damage, with many residents losing their homes, land, and belongings.
In Kandi panchayat, one house was completely destroyed, four were partially damaged, and four more are under threat due to unstable land conditions in Devdhar village, which has now turned into a dangerous sliding zone. According to Netar Singh, pradhan of Kandi gram panchayat, nine families have been directly affected and must be shifted to a safer location.
Anah panchayat reported the complete destruction of three houses and partial damage to 27 more. Tara Chand, the pradhan, said over 30 families have been affected. While most have land to rebuild on, they urgently require financial support to begin construction.
In Bada panchayat, the situation is particularly alarming. Four houses were destroyed and 40 others face a serious threat, affecting at least 44 families. Locals fear that more landslides could happen if the area is not stabilized soon. Residents have requested swift government action before further damage occurs.
In Sharan panchayat, three houses were fully damaged and four others partially so, impacting 16 families. Villagers like Khem Singh and Bharat Raj Thakur said the land has become unsafe for any reconstruction and requested immediate relocation to safer areas.
Thunag panchayat has seen the most extensive destruction. Forty-five houses were fully destroyed and another 70 were partially damaged. Similar reports of widespread devastation have come from other villages in the Thunag subdivision. According to data from the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), 959 houses were damaged in Thunag alone, followed by 59 in Karsog, 56 in Gohar, 45 in Dharampur, and 17 in Mandi Sadar.
Affected villagers, including Lal Singh and Nota Ram from Kandi, Parmanand and Dhand Dev from Anah, Kamal Dev and Guman Chand from Bada, Hansa Devi from Sharan, and Vimla Devi from Thunag, have all come forward with a united appeal to the government. They said they have lost everything and, with no land to rebuild their homes, they urgently need both land and financial help.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced a financial aid of Rs 7 lakh to every affected family for rebuilding their homes. He also assured that forestland will be provided to landless families for permanent relocation, with the help of the Central Government. Additionally, affected families will receive Rs 5,000 per month to rent temporary accommodation until their homes are rebuilt. The district administration is currently assessing the damage to prepare the final list of affected families, including loss to houses, cowsheds, shops, and farmland.
While the state has promised support, the victims of Seraj now wait for timely action to help them recover and rebuild their lives.
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