Efforts intensified to provide houses for displaced families of Thunadi village

Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan visited the disaster-affected areas of the Seraj Assembly constituency in Mandi district yesterday to assess the on-ground situation and review the progress of ongoing relief and rehabilitation operations. His visit included inspections of key sites such as the Primary School, Ruhad, Government Middle School, Thainser, and the Bryogi gram panchayat, all of which have been impacted by recent natural calamities.

The Deputy Commissioner (DC) also held a review meeting with officials in Thunag to evaluate the effectiveness of relief measures being carried out in the affected villages. The worst-hit among the affected areas is Thunadi village in Lambathach panchayat of the Seraj region, where heavy floods and landslides on June 30 caused massive devastation. Five houses were completely destroyed, and three others suffered partial damage. Families, whose homes were either destroyed or deemed unsafe, have been safely relocated to the Rahkot relief camp.

According to the DC, currently, a total of 37 families, comprising 85 individuals, are residing in two government buildings serving as temporary shelters. At the Government Senior Secondary School, Rahkot, three large rooms are available, two of which are currently housing 43 people, while the third is being used as a storage room. Another 30 individuals are staying in three rooms of the Forest Guard residential quarters nearby.

“Ten children and five families from Thunadi village are living in private residences in Rahkot, with food being supplied to them from the relief camp’s kitchen,” he said.

“Each of the 37 families from Thunadi has received Rs 5,000 as rental assistance. Four families whose homes were completely destroyed have been provided Rs 1,30,000 each under the Relief Manual 2012 through Relief Management System (RMS). Relief has also been provided to families with partially damaged houses. Five owners of damaged cowsheds have already been compensated, with more cases currently under process,” the DC said.

The DC further stated that the administration was expediting efforts to provide permanent alternate housing near the Rahkot relief camp for the five families of Thunadi village whose homes were totally destroyed.

The authorities are also working to ensure that all eligible families receive benefits under any special relief package as early as possible.

Thunag SDM Ramesh Thakur and other senior sub-divisional officials accompanied the DC during his visit to Seraj.