Munish Sood
Mandi (Siraj):
In Himachal Pradesh’s remote Siraj Valley, where landslides and flash floods have turned villages into rubble, one family’s ordeal emerges as perhaps the worst-hit — a story of shattered dreams, silent suffering, and desperate hope.
For Phulma Devi of Jawani village in Khani Kanda panchayat, the recent disaster has not just destroyed her house; it has broken the very foundation of her life.
A Dream Home Reduced to Ruins
Phulma and her husband — who is hearing-impaired — had long dreamed of building a proper cemented house with a tin roof, moving away from the fragile old dwelling they had endured for years. Every rupee saved went into that dream.
Brick by brick, they built their home. The family had just shifted into the lower floor while the upper floor was under construction. But when nature’s fury struck Siraj Valley, that dream came crashing down. The structure now stands battered, unsafe, and uninhabitable.
Silent Pain, Endless Struggles
Every evening, Phulma watches the ruins with tearful eyes. Her husband cannot hear her cries, but he can read the sorrow etched on her face.
The couple’s only son, already battling a serious illness requiring surgery at IGMC Shimla, adds to the weight on Phulma’s shoulders. She now stands alone as caregiver, breadwinner, and protector of a family on the edge of collapse.
No Shelter, No Relief
The government has declared their house unsafe, yet no concrete relief has reached them. Today, the family lives in a single room offered by Ulma’s brother-in-law, as the mountain behind their village continues to crack and roads remain broken, cutting them off from help.
“Where should we go? Even the mountain is collapsing. Roads are broken. No help is reaching us,” Ulma pleads, her voice trembling.
A Call for Humanity
Phulma’s story is more than a statistic of disaster — it is a mother’s appeal to humanity. She asks for nothing more than a chance to rebuild, to secure treatment for her son, and to stand beside her husband who lives in silence.
“If anyone wishes to help us, please send whatever you can,” she says with folded hands.
Contributions can be made directly to her Google Pay number: 8627083447 (Phulma Devi).
