Help restore roads in Seraj, Jai Ram urges JCB machine owners

Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur has appealed to the owners of private JCB and heavy machines to come forward and assist in reopening blocked roads in disaster-affected areas of Seraj in Mandi district. During a visit to the affected areas, Thakur took stock of the ongoing relief work and interacted with the affected families, which had lost homes, land and livelihoods due to recent landslides and flashfloods.

Thakur emphasised the urgency of restoring connectivity in the region. “Many main and link roads are still blocked after the rain disaster. The apple season is about to begin, so the transportation of fruit from the remaining undamaged orchards to the market has become a major challenge,” he added.

He appealed to the JCB machine owners to contribute by offering their equipment to help reopen roads. He said that the cost of fuel and maintenance would be covered. “If the JCB machine owners come forward to support us, we are ready to bear the fuel expenses. This will allow us to carry out the road restoration work on a war-footing,” he added.

Thakur welcomed the gesture of some citizens who had voluntarily offered to deploy their machinery at their own cost to help clear roads. “Many people have come forward with an offer to help and I express my heartfelt gratitude to them. This kind of support is crucial in this time of crisis. If we get adequate machinery support, we will ensure that all major and link roads are restored well in time for the apple season,” he added.

Thakur also addressed concerns regarding the misuse of donations. He urged donors to verify the details of the beneficiaries before offering help to ensure the aid reaches genuine persons. “It has come to our notice that some individuals are trying to take undue advantage of people’s generosity. I request all kindhearted donors to verify details, either through the local administration or with our assistance, before extending aid,” he added.

He said that many philanthropists had reached out with an intention to offer financial support for the rehabilitation of the disaster-affected people. He suggested a transparent donation process. “Donors can sign blank cheques with the desired amount, which we can hand over directly to the affected families in their presence. We can also provide a detailed list of beneficiaries, who receive the donations.”

Thakur thanked all donors and volunteers, who had shown solidarity with the disaster-hit communities and reiterated the importance of targeted, verified and accountable relief efforts.