Ropeway Travel and Goods Transport Made Free for 10 Days in Flood-Hit Seraj: Deputy CM Agnihotri Assures Full State Support.
Shimla:
In a major relief measure for flood and landslide-affected areas in Seraj and Nachan assembly constituencies of Himachal Pradesh, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri has announced that ropeway travel and the transport of goods through ropeway services will remain completely free for the next 7 to 10 days. The initiative comes in response to the region being heavily cut off due to incessant rainfall, flash floods, and landslides that have caused widespread devastation.
Arriving in Mandi late Friday, Deputy CM Agnihotri toured the disaster-hit areas via the Baglamukhi Ropeway and conducted on-ground inspections of affected villages. “The ropeway has become the only lifeline for people here,” he said. “In such critical times, the focus must be on public service rather than profit.”
Agnihotri said that ropeway operators have been instructed to suspend all passenger and goods charges. “Over 1,500 people have already used the ropeway free of cost,” he added. Emergency ropeway services will also be available through phone call requests.
Drinking Water Supply Severely Hit
During his visit, the Deputy CM revealed that the Rs 121-crore drinking water scheme in Seraj has sustained severe damage. In Mandi district alone, damage is estimated to be between Rs 75–100 crore, while total losses across the state have crossed Rs 300 crore.
To speed up restoration, the Jal Shakti Department has been authorized to bypass the usual tendering process and initiate immediate restoration work through offline tenders. Where pipeline deliveries are delayed, local purchases have been permitted to avoid further setbacks.
Two Chief Engineers will remain stationed in Seraj to monitor recovery operations. Four Executive Engineers have also been specially deputed from Shimla to strengthen on-ground engineering support. Additionally, the Public Works Department (PWD) has also been allowed to use offline tenders to fast-track the rebuilding of damaged roads.
42 Houses Declared in Red Zone, 16 Destroyed
In Bada village, Agnihotri met with families who lost their homes in the disaster. The village’s Pradhan, Jima Devi, informed him that 42 homes have been declared in the red zone, and 16 have been completely destroyed. The Deputy CM assured residents that government rest houses under the Jal Shakti Department have been opened as shelters for affected families.
He also visited relief camps in Sharan village of Bagsiad region, which was hit by a cloudburst and landslides. While inspecting these camps, he directed officials to ensure uninterrupted electricity, clean drinking water, food, and healthcare facilities.
One particularly emotional moment came during his meeting with Tanuja Thakur, a young woman who was trapped under debris for five hours following the June 30 cloudburst. Hailing her courage, Agnihotri described her as an “inspiration for the daughters of Himachal.”
Valley Bridge and Road Access to Be Restored
At the site of a massive landslide along the Pandoh-Bakhli road, which affected traffic across 14 panchayats, Agnihotri ordered the construction of a 60-meter-long Bailey bridge to restore connectivity as quickly as possible. The Deputy CM emphasized that restoration of road and transport links remains a top priority for the state government.
High-Level Review Meeting Held
Before his field visits, Deputy CM Agnihotri chaired a high-level review meeting in Mandi late Friday evening with officials from the district administration and key departments, including Jal Shakti, PWD, Transport, Police, and Disaster Management.
Reviewing the situation, he revealed that 241 drinking water projects in Thunag region alone had been affected, with 41 partially restored by Friday. Orders for new pipeline material have already been placed and will be delivered as soon as road access is restored.
Currently, 33 major road routes have been affected across the region, and efforts are underway to reopen them at the earliest. District Collector Apoorv Devgan gave a detailed account of the ongoing relief and rehabilitation work during the meeting.
Deputy CM Agnihotri reaffirmed the government’s unwavering support:
“The state administration is fully committed to providing every form of assistance to the affected people. This is not just about relief—it’s about helping people return to normal life.”
Coordinated Relief Efforts in Full Swing
Teams from the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local administration are actively engaged in rescue and relief operations. Congress leader from Seraj Vijay Pal Singh, Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan, SP Sakshi Verma, and senior officials from departments including Jal Shakti, Health, and PWD accompanied the Deputy CM during his inspection.
This swift and coordinated response reflects the state’s proactive disaster management strategy and its emphasis on immediate relief and long-term rehabilitation.
