Mandi: Woman Falls Into Stream While Crossing Temporary Bridge, Rescued by Local Man—Both Safe

Mandi, July 27 – In the aftermath of the June 30 disaster, the Seraj region continues to reel under the impact, with not only roads damaged but footpaths and small bridges also swept away. As a result, residents are left with no choice but to risk their lives crossing makeshift paths and wooden bridges, often leading to accidents.

A recent incident highlights the danger. In Gram Panchayat Jhundi, near the Juud stream, a woman named Pooja slipped and fell into the water while crossing a temporary wooden bridge. Witnessing the accident, a local man, Tiwendra Kumar, jumped in after her in an attempt to rescue her.

SMC President Yashpal also joined the rescue efforts by jumping into the water. Thanks to their combined efforts, all three individuals made it out safely. According to BDC member Parvati Thakur, the group had gone to the Panchayat Bhawan in Jhundi to collect rations, and the incident occurred on their way back.

Local resident Tanuja Thakur shared that most of the region’s paths and bridges have been destroyed, severely affecting daily life. Parvati Thakur has urged the district administration and state government to expedite the repair of damaged paths and build safer temporary bridges. She stressed that schoolchildren must be sent through these hazardous routes daily, while road connectivity remains largely cut off. Although authorities are working to restore access, the pace needs to increase significantly.

The dire conditions in Seraj are well known to the state leadership. During his recent visit, the Chief Minister himself crossed these makeshift bridges to reach affected residents. The Leader of the Opposition and former CM has also been visiting the area via the same routes. Even central government teams, after visiting, have acknowledged the scale of damage and the reality on the ground.

With extensive devastation across Seraj, it is evident that full restoration and relief work will take considerable time.