Seraj, Karsog, Dharampur worst-hit; horticulture loss Rs 29 crore

Cloudbursts and resultant flashfloods on June 30 night wreaked havoc in Seraj, Gohar, Karsog and Dharampur of Mandi district. The rain disaster deeply scarred the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of people. While 15 persons were killed, 27 are still missing. A large number of houses, cattle sheds and agricultural land were swept away in the flashfloods.

The impact of the calamity extended beyond human casualties and the destruction of properties; it struck at the very heart of the economy of Mandi district, i.e, horticulture and agriculture, which are the primary sources of livelihood for thousands of residents.

According to the data released by the Horticulture Department, around 394 hectares were damaged, affecting 1,065 farmers and resulting in an estimated loss of Rs 29 crore. The Seraj region bore the brunt of the damage, as 108 hectares, including large swathes of apple orchards, were destroyed. As many as 287 farmers were affected by the calamity. The revenue loss was pegged at Rs 23.52 crore.

Other regions that were heavily impacted include Gohar, Balichowki, Karsog and Dharampur. In Gohar, around 62 hectares under horticulture were damaged, 89 farmers were affected and a Rs 3.47 crore loss was suffered. In Balichowki, 5 hectares were damaged, 25 farmers were affected and a Rs 1.41 crore loss was reported. In Karsog, 162 hectares were damaged, 421 farmers were affected and a loss to tune of Rs 35 lakh was reported. In Dharampur, 25 hectares were damaged, 113 farmers were affected and a loss of Rs 19 lakh was assessed.

Sanjay Kumar Gupta, Deputy Director, Horticulture Department, said that over 63,000 fruit plants, including 53,000 apple trees, were destroyed in the rain disaster, dealing a massive blow to the region’s fruit economy. “We are at present completing the final assessment and a detailed report will be submitted soon,” he added.

The Agriculture Department has reported even greater losses in terms of the affected land. As per the official figures, 2,172.41 hectares of agricultural land was impacted in the district and a revenue loss of around Rs 8.35 crore was assessed.

The region-wise damage to agriculture includes Dharampur (1,035.70 hectares), Seraj (543.50 hectares), Gohar (374.90 hectares) and Karsog (158 hectares). Minor losses also occurred in some other parts of Mandi district.

Farmers in the affected areas are grappling with unimaginable trauma. They have lost their homes, livestock, orchards and farmland and are left without a shelter or a clear path to rebuild their lives. “We are in deep shock. God has taken everything - our families, homes, fields. We do not know where to begin again,” said Jeevan Lal, a distraught farmer of Seraj.