Senior citizens step in Kullu council raises Rs 8-lakh for flood-hit villages

In the wake of the recent natural calamity that ravaged parts of Himachal Pradesh, the Kullu Senior Citizen Council has raised over Rs 8 lakh through a vigorous social media and personal outreach campaign. The funds are being channelled to provide immediate relief to those most affected.

A council delegation — comprising Kamal Bhardwaj, Ghanshyam Sood, DK Sharma, Pinak Sharma, Dr Kulraj, Dr Pramba, Dr SK Sharma and Ved Sood — visited Bagan village to assess the destruction. Their findings were grim: the access road lay in ruins and most homes were either destroyed or unsafe for habitation.

At a community meeting, villagers requested that relief funds be routed through the Khadya Evam Aapda Prabandan Samiti, Bagan, a local committee overseeing relief efforts. Responding swiftly, the council disbursed Rs 3 lakh in immediate aid. Beyond Bagan, the council has also extended support to homeless families in Kullu and Mandi, tailoring assistance to individual needs.

Despite these efforts, Bagan’s situation remains dire. Many residents, especially those from weaker sections, lack the resources to rebuild even basic shelters. The council has urged the administration to prioritise rehabilitation and called for diverting funds from cultural events, including the upcoming Dasehra festival, towards relief and reconstruction.

Appealing for continued public generosity, the council has also encouraged victims to seek financial assistance without hesitation. Its efforts underscore how collective community action can bring hope amid devastation.

Recent unprecedented rainfall triggered landslides and ground subsidence across Kullu and Mandi districts. In Bagan, one of the worst-hit areas, most homes were destroyed, forcing displaced families to take refuge in nearby houses and school buildings while facing immense hardship and uncertainty.