As the apple harvesting campaign starts in the Seraj Assembly constituency of Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, hundreds of fruit growers are being disrupted by broken roads and blocked pedestrian lanes.
The heavy rains of June 30 have caused significant damage to the region’s infrastructure, seriously affecting transportation of agricultural and horticultural produce to distant markets.
READ MORE: Rain Hit Seraj Valley
Although the Public Works Department (PWD) has restored connectivity on some of the main roads, around 81 of the village link roads in the Seraj Valley are blocked, delaying harvesting. For many apple growers, this means not being able to get to the orchard or transport the harvested produce to market where timely delivery is critical in order to gain the best price.
READ ALSO: Spiti Village Hit by Cloudburst | Four Homes Buried Under Debris and Floodwater
Om Prakash Thakur, a resident of Pakhrair panchayat, voiced his concern:
Due to extensive damage to link and main roads, farmers are feeling helpless. Apples are ready for harvest, but we cannot move them to market in time.
Key road links such as Chet–Cheuni, Jarol–Chakudgar–Jugandh, Janjehli–Bekhli, Janjehli–Gadagusain via Reshan, Kataru–Ruar, Sangalvara–Shadanagar, Pandavshila–Dhar, and Kuthah–Tungadhar remain inaccessible. This has caused major transportation bottlenecks in apple-growing regions, adding to farmers’ anxiety.
Ravinder Sisodiya of Jarol highlighted the broader impact of the disaster:
Several families lost homes, shops, and livelihoods in the rains. Now, the blocked roads are stopping us from even harvesting our apples. We’re just waiting for restoration to begin our work.
Farmers from severely affected areas like Pakhrair, Tungadhar, Bekhli, Ruar, and Chet–Cheuni have appealed to the administration for immediate action, fearing heavy financial losses if the apples aren’t transported soon. Delays could mean significant depreciation in fruit quality and market value.
Amid the difficulties, the administration is making serious efforts to reinstate access. Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan is keeping a close eye on the developing situation. On Saturday, he visited the Pakhrair panchayat, severely affected by the disaster and assured residents that rebuilding road links to remote villages was a priority.
Restoration work has begun in Daizy village of Thunag. PWD teams are working under extremely difficult conditions, even entering flooded streams to clear roads. The Chail–Janjehli–Tungadhar road is also under restoration,” said the DC.
Debris removal efforts are ongoing in Thunag Bazaar and at Lambathach Degree College. Dredging operations are also in full swing in nearby streams, Byond Khad and Bani Nala.
With the onset of peak harvest season rapidly approaching, apple growers expect quick fixes to the roads so that they can get their hard-earned crop to market without further losses.
READ ALSO: Himachal Pradesh Rain Disaster : 109 Killed, 226 Roads Blocked Due to Landslides
Disclaimer: This news article was originally reported by The Tribune and has been edited and republished by Bol Chaal for informational purposes. All credit for original reporting goes to The Tribune.
