From ruin to resilience: How Himachal's Thunag traders rebuilt their lives brick by brick

The bustling Thunag market in the Seraj region of Mandi district, once silenced by the fury of flash floods on June 30, has risen from the wreckage to reclaim its lost vibrancy. What was, until recently, a wasteland of mud and debris is once again echoing with the sounds of trade and life, as shopkeepers reopen their establishments after months of backbreaking restoration.

The flash floods tore through the heart of the market, leaving behind shattered shops and heaps of sludge. For weeks, traders waded through ruin, salvaging what little they could. The rebuilding was slow, often lonely, and financially draining. Yet, four months on, the signs of revival are unmistakable.

“I reopened my readymade garment shop just a few days ago,” shared Pawan Kumar, a local trader. “Footfall is still low, but at least there’s movement again. I’m hopeful that things will improve gradually.”

Others like Mohar Singh have endured even greater loss. “The flood destroyed my shop and both my houses,” he said quietly. “It took months to clear the debris before I could even think of reopening.” Singh, however, found help in unexpected places. Along with government aid, a local blogger and social activist, Bunty Serajee, stepped in to pay Rs 90,000 in university fees for Singh’s two children, a gesture that restored more than just faith.

Many shopkeepers received Rs 25,000 each in compensation, but they continue to await the full relief package promised by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Traders have also appealed for loan waivers, as repayment in the current climate remains an impossible burden.

Despite lingering uncertainty, the resilience of Thunag’s people stands unbroken. “Restarting my business was an act of faith,” said Khila Devi, a small trader. “We can’t live in fear, but the government must ensure that rivulets are properly channelized, another flood would finish us.”

Today, Thunag market hums once again. Its reopened shops and returning customers serving as proof that even nature’s worst blows cannot crush the human spirit. In the Seraj hills, determination has rebuilt what disaster once swept away — one brick, one heartbeat and one hopeful sale at a time.