Shops, homes inundated with debris, restoration work begins in Thunag

Restoration and cleanup work is underway in full swing in the Thunag market of Mandi district after a cloudburst on June 30 triggered flashfloods that devastated the area. The calamity, caused by sudden floods in three water streams in the higher reaches, wreaked havoc in the commercial and residential areas of Thunag.

Now, as weather conditions have improved, the affected residents have begun the painstaking task of clearing debris from their shops and homes. Streets are slowly becoming navigable again, thanks to the efforts of locals and the administration, which has deployed its machinery.

Umesh Kumari, who operated a beauty parlour in the Thunag market, was seen removing muck and debris from her shop. “Everything in the shop is spoiled. The equipment and furniture are damaged beyond repair,” she said with visible distress.

Devender Kumar, owner of Chirag Electrical, said that his shop was completely buried under debris and he was now trying to salvage whatever little he could. “The shop has been destroyed. I do not know how I will restart,” he added.

DK Prabhakar, a local resident, was working tirelessly to clean the ground floor of his house, which was inundated with debris. “It was a terrifying night. Now, we are trying to recover, one step at a time,” he added.

The local administration has deployed a JCB machine in the Thunag market to help in clearing the internal link road and facilitate the movement of light vehicles and pedestrians. However, the cleaning process is expected to take more days as the damage is extensive.

Residents remain hopeful but admit that rebuilding will take time and support. “We have started cleaning but will need help to recover,” said shopkeeper Khila Devi.

The disaster has left a lasting impact on the region, but the resilient Thunag people have come together to restore normalcy in the wake of the nature’s fury.