Himachal Pradesh News
One Year After Syathi Cloudburst, Displaced Families in Himachal Still Await Rehabilitation and Government Support
Nearly a year after a devastating cloudburst and flash floods struck Syathi village in Longni Gram Panchayat under Dharampur Assembly constituency, many affected families continue to wait for permanent rehabilitation. Residents allege that government assistance has been delayed and remains insufficient, forcing several families to survive on their own.
Nearly a year after a devastating cloudburst and flash floods struck Syathi village in Longni Gram Panchayat under Dharampur Assembly constituency, many affected families continue to wait for permanent rehabilitation. Residents allege that government assistance has been delayed and remains insufficient, forcing several families to survive on their own.
The natural disaster, which occurred on June 30 last year, left around 20 families homeless and caused widespread destruction in the village. Immediately after the tragedy, the displaced residents were sheltered in a local temple for nearly a month before being shifted to rented accommodation.
According to the affected families, rent assistance was provided for only three months. Since then, many claim they have received no further financial support, despite continuing to live away from their homes. They are demanding permanent rehabilitation, compensation for livestock losses, land allotment, and adequate financial assistance to rebuild their houses.
Former Zila Parishad member and Himachal Kisan Sabha leader Bhupender Singh, who recently visited the village, alleged that the rehabilitation process has been slow and inadequate. He claimed that although nearly 20 families were displaced by the disaster, only eight were declared eligible for government relief.
Singh said a memorandum will soon be submitted to the Dharampur Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), demanding payment of one year’s pending house rent, compensation for livestock losses, and land and financial assistance for all affected families.
Several residents also claimed they have been forced to purchase land with financial support from individuals and social organisations because government rehabilitation has yet to materialise. Others alleged that despite their homes being structurally unsafe due to the risk of fresh landslides, they were denied rehabilitation benefits simply because their houses had not completely collapsed.
Among the victims is Dumnu Ram, who said the disaster destroyed his livelihood after six of his mules were buried under debris. He said his family of ten has been living in rented accommodation ever since. While he received ₹40,000 as compensation for the loss of livestock, he was not granted housing assistance because his house remained standing, despite being unsafe for habitation.
Another affected resident, Deep Kumar, said he received rent support for only a few months and has not received any further rehabilitation assistance. Dhandev, who received ₹2.70 lakh in financial aid, said the amount was insufficient to purchase suitable land and appealed to the government to provide land for permanent rehabilitation.
Responding to the allegations, Dharampur SDM Joginder Patyal said a government committee conducted a damage assessment immediately after the disaster. Based on the survey, only eight families were found eligible for relief under the existing government guidelines.
Patyal explained that several applicants belonged to joint families living in the same house, where the registered homeowner had already received compensation. He maintained that relief was distributed strictly according to government norms.
As the first anniversary of the Syathi disaster passes, many displaced families continue to hope for permanent rehabilitation and additional support to rebuild their lives after one of the region’s most destructive natural disasters.
