180 per cent surplus rain, massive flash floods and erratic landslides have snapped life and livelihood for days in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi - a district worst hit by climate change. In this thread, I report on the aftermath of the worst floods in Himachal's history.

The people who lost their everything were the ones who lived near the river, like 53-year-old Balwinder Singh, who was tasked with taking care of the crematorium in Mandi.

He migrated to Mandi after 1984 anti-sikh riots in which he was orphaned. He told me, "here, no one discriminates against my lower caste. I cremate bodies of all religions. I have washed many bodies with my hands. For me it's seva." The crematorium was also washed away in floods.

It was not his first choice to live next to the crematorium, but he got this house as part of his job which pays him INR 8,000 per month. He has been living near the river for 20 years but this is the first time that everything he owns was washed away by swollen Beas.

Climate change not only hits people living in poverty the hardest, it can further extend gap btw rich and poor. Families who don't have savings and are fighting to make ends meet are disproportionally disadvantaged when disasters hit them. Photos from a relief camp in Mandi -

The wealthy have insurance to cover a quick retreat to safety, temporary accommodation, and rebuilding or relocation costs. But the poor may not be able to evacuate, have access to food, water, housing or energy.

It's a hard fact - many families in India are one climate change disaster away from homelessness and poverty.

Balwinder Singh lost his everything in floods - TV, fridge, cupboard, bed, utensils as well as his identity cards. His house is filled with sand till his own height. This loss is unaffordable for him. He has now shifted to a Gurudwara nearby.

"Madam digg gya mai... Main pani dekh kr digg gya.. ankhon mai aansu aa gye...hun dekh ke aaye hain...itni itni ret hai" he told me after he saw his house after two days, filled with sand. He fainted after looking at the intensity of furious water and couldn't hold tears.

"The bigger thing is we survived. What if the river engulfed us at night while we were sleeping? We are grateful to God that it happened when it was bright outside. God is kind because of the seva at the crematorium. I have put everything in my job," Balwinder said.

Balwinder Singh's story is the reality of many historically marginalised people. Forced to inhabit unsafe spaces. The dispossession is double when development disasters happen. Caste,class should be centred here.