Apple growers in Mandi are in deep trouble as 191 roads in the district remain blocked for over a month due to continuous rains and landslides. In Seraj and Karsog , the worst-hit constituencies, farmers are worried they would not be able to transport their apple crop to markets.
In Seraj alone, 85 Public Works Department (PWD) roads are shut, and in Karsog, 17 are still closed. Many smaller village link roads, maintained by panchayats, are also blocked, leaving farmers of remote areas cut off.
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Guman Singh, an apple grower from Bagrathach in Seraj, said, “We are in a dilemma. The fruit is ready but without road access, how we will take it to markets? We fear we will suffer heavy losses if the situation does not improve soon.”
Meanwhile, machines have been deployed to restore important roads in the area, and officials hope road access will be restored within four days. However, ongoing rain is making the repair work difficult.
Jaiwanti, from the Baryogi area of Seraj, said, “For more than a month, our area has remained disconnected. The fruit is ready for harvesting but we are stuck and helpless.”
Karsog MLA Deep Raj expressed his frustration over the slow pace of restoration work and urged the state government to deploy more resources to reopen the roads faster. “If roads are not restored immediately, it will be an economic disaster for fruit growers, who depend entirely on this seasonal crop,” he warned.
Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, who represents Seraj, slammed the government for its slow action. “Rains have devastated Seraj. Homes are damaged, lives have been lost, and now farmers face the risk of losing their only source of livelihood. I will take up the matter with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and seek immediate action.” He warned that without quick restoration, Seraj would face economic ruin.
PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh said orders had been given to speed up road restoration in Mandi’s apple belt. “We are fully aware of the crisis and committed to helping our fruit growers. Every possible effort is being made to restore connectivity at the earliest,” he said.
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