Crops withering: Sirmaur villagers seek action to reopen key road

Villagers in the Sarahan region of Sirmaur district are facing severe hardships as the road connecting Ser, Katli, Surla Janot, Dhangyar and Tikri Kuthar via Jaman near Mahal Preetnagar has remained closed for the past 45 days. The prolonged closure, caused by heavy rainfall, has disrupted daily commuting, agricultural work and access to essential services in these remote panchayats of the Pachhad Assembly constituency.

Residents submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner (DC) Priyanka Verma urging immediate action to restore the road. The villagers highlighted that most crops had already been damaged by rain and the remaining produce is at risk because farmers cannot reach their fields.

The closure has particularly affected Tikri Kuthar, one of Sirmaur’s most remote panchayats, where residents are struggling to access health services, transport their produce and carry out other essential tasks. A delegation representing multiple Gram Panchayats of the Ghinnighad region met the DC to brief her on the ongoing difficulties caused by the blocked road.

Villagers explained that the Sarahan-Jaman road, connecting Dhangyar and Tikri Kuthar, has been unusable since heavy rains over a month and a half ago. Despite this prolonged period, vehicles still cannot pass, affecting daily life in at least ten Gram Panchayats in the Ghinnighad area.

Local authorities, including the SDM of Pachhad, have been informed, but the problem persists. Additionally, a Gram Sabha meeting in Tikri Kuthar, chaired by Pradhan Yad Ram Sharma, passed a formal resolution requesting the DC to take urgent steps to reopen the road.

Villagers have appealed to the DC to take immediate action, emphasising that reopening the road is critical for farmers, students and residents in these remote areas to access essential services and continue their livelihoods.