THUNAG/JANJEHLI, JULY 10 — The mountains stood still, the rivers raged, and in between, a stunned Jai Ram Thakur — former Chief Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and Seraj’s very own MLA — fought back tears.
He scanned the wreckage of his beloved constituency in an Indian Air Force chopper and landed at helipad in Janjehli and then walked and trekked through the ruins and scars left behind by the deluge in his home Turf on June 30.
What he saw from the skies and later on ground, meeting victims, his own people, face to face, broke him visibly.
Happy homes, beautiful valleys — all deserted now, he said, choking on words as he surveyed the villages that had once defined his dream of turning Seraj into a model constituency of Himachal Pradesh.
But that dream lies buried under the rubble left behind by the June 30 catastrophe.
“This disaster has pushed Seraj back by 25 years,” he said solemnly.
“People have lost their homes, their lands, their animals — their entire economy is shattered. Only grief remains.”
Thakur, who has represented Seraj for over two decades, looked shaken but not defeated.
Standing beside grieving families and walking through muddy debris, deluge scarred villages he made a bold pledge to the people:
“We will not let this break us. Our spirits are stronger than rock and higher than these mountains.”
In a heartfelt appeal to citizens and donors across the country, he said,
“Please come forward and contribute, especially for those who have lost their loved ones or their homes.
"Winter is coming fast to these hills, and many are without shelter. We need to act now.”
He promised that relief materials would reach every single victim.
“We are committed to ensuring that no one is left behind. But I urge everyone in Seraj — stay strong. Don’t lose courage. Your resilience is our strength.”
Thakur admitted that the scale of the disaster is overwhelming, and rebuilding the valley will require massive effort, resources, and people’s support, he has taken to social media to reach out to the wider humanity.
“But the way help is pouring in, I believe this dark chapter will pass. We will rise again — together, said the son of soil, who had grown up at Tandi village in a humble Seraji family, when there was no connectivity and poverty was a writ large.
For a leader who once envisioned Seraj as a success story of Himachal’s rural development, today was a cruel twist of fate.
The contractors engaged in road and infrastructure projects turned out to be ruthless, dumping debris into ecosensitive streams and Nallahs, khads which turned into raging floods when Torrential rains of 235 mm Lashed the entire valley on June 30.
But in his grief, Thakur found purpose.
“We are wounded, yes. But this land is sacred, and its people unbreakable. Seraj will stand tall again, said his supporters.
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