Mandi ‘JCB hero’ works 12 hours a day to connect cloudburst-hit areas to mainland
Ashwani Kumar heroic act receives praise widespread praise
MANDI: The devastating flashflood triggered by a cloudburst on July 31 midnight in the Terang area of Padhar subdivision has left an indelible mark on the lives of many. The disaster claimed the lives of 10 persons from six families and swept away the homes of four others.
In response, the Mandi district administration launched an immediate and relentless search operation to locate the missing individuals. However, the scale of the disaster posed significant challenges, as large boulders trapped many of the victims, making it extremely difficult for the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police and Home Guard teams to carry out the rescue and recovery efforts. Grieving families were left clinging to the hope of at least recovering the bodies of their loved ones for a dignified farewell.
In this bleak situation, Ashwani Kumar, a JCB machine operator, emerged as a beacon of hope. The cloudburst had completely destroyed the 6-km stretch of road from Thalthu Khod to Terang, rendering the area nearly inaccessible.
Undeterred by the dangers, Ashwani Kumar navigated his JCB machine to the site — an area so treacherous that even reaching it on foot was nearly impossible. For the past five days, Kumar has been tirelessly operating his machine for over 12 hours a day, helping rescue teams retrieve the bodies trapped beneath enormous boulders.
His selfless dedication has earned widespread respect and admiration. Without his efforts, recovering the bodies trapped under the rocks would have been nearly impossible.
Ashwani Kumar, who hails from Rajol Kotla village in Jawali, Kangra district, has demonstrated extraordinary courage and commitment. He expressed his deep commitment to ensuring that the missing individuals are found and returned to their families as quickly as possible.
Currently, the search is focused on locating one individual, Hardev. Kumar’s JCB machine has already sifted through the debris once, and the search is now being extended to the lower parts of the accident site.
Mandi ADM Madan Kumar lauded the operator’s exceptional contributions to the search efforts. “Ashwani Kumar has managed to move boulders that seemed impossible to shift with a single machine,” said Kumar. “We are hopeful that, even if Hardev’s body is trapped deep beneath a rock, it will be recovered thanks to his efforts.”
Ashwani Kumar’s bravery and determination serve as a powerful reminder of the human spirit’s resilience in the face of disaster.
