Punjab floods: Villages inundated in Ferozepur, volunteers join to provide help

Ferozepur (Punjab), Sep 4 (PTI) Sandbags, ropes and bare hands... More than 2,000 volunteers at Ferozepur's Habib Ke village are giving it their all as they battle day and night to save an embankment from collapsing under the relentless force of the Sutlej river.

It has been four days. And the effort continues unabated with villagers from Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan joining army engineers and drainage officials to plug weak stretches.

"The real heroes are the people who come with bags, food, and bare hands. Their spirit is keeping the bandh alive," said contractor Ratan Singh Saini.

The crisis worsened after 3.30 lakh cusecs of water -- 40,000 cusecs higher than the 2023 flood peak -- was discharged from Harike Headworks.

The swollen river, fed by heavy rains, cloudbursts, and fresh releases from Bhakra and Pong dams, breached the RG embankment near Manu Machhi village in Zira's Makhu sub-division, flooding Chak Manu Machhi, Jamaliwala, Gatta Dallar, and Tibi.

Though timely evacuation saved lives, hundreds of acres of standing crops were washed away.

According to officials, 111 villages in Ferozepur and 77 in Fazilka are submerged, impacting 39,076 people in Ferozepur and 21,562 in Fazilka. Of these, 3,495 in Ferozepur and 2,422 in Fazilka have already been displaced.

Even as Border Security Force jawans continue patrols along the fencing despite flooded fields, the toll on ordinary families remains severe.

At Hamad Chak village, 58-year-old daily wager Harmeesh Singh stood in despair beside the rubble of his collapsed home. "I built this with years of hard labour. Now it's gone," he said.

Similar stories emerged from Rukne Wala, Pachaadiya, and Gatta Badshah, where villagers remain on watch round-the-clock against the rising waters.

Punjab is battling its worst floods since 1988 with large swathes of land under water. On Wednesday, the death toll rose to 37. Crops on 1.75 lakh hectares of land in all the 23 districts have been damaged.

Relief and rescue operations by the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Border Security Force (BSF), Punjab Police and district authorities are underway in the affected areas, officials said.

Fazilka Deputy Commissioner Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu issued an urgent evacuation appeal, warning that 3.11 lakh cusecs discharged from Harike posed a grave threat. She said 12 relief camps were operational, with 1,498 people already sheltered, and over 2,422 evacuated with the help of NDRF, the army, and civil teams.

"Children, women, and the elderly must be moved on priority. Food, shelter, and medical aid are being ensured," she said.

Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner Deepshikah Sharma said more than 3,400 people have been rescued and safely shifted to secure locations so far by the teams engaged in relief and rescue operations.

Relief camps have been set up across the district where flood-affected families are being provided food and all essential facilities.

Extending solidarity with flood-affected families in Punjab's border belt, Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak announced Rs 5 crore from his MPLADS funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction in Ferozepur.

During his visit to the flood-hit villages of Hazara Singh Wala, Gatti Rajoke, Bare Ke relief camp, Rukne Wala, Ghazni Wala, Mabo Ke, and Lakha Singh Wala Hithar on Wednesday, Pathak reviewed the devastation caused by rising waters and assured residents of swift assistance.

In this hour of crisis, it is not only the responsibility but also the moral duty of public representatives to stand by the people, the AAP leader said.

Praising the efforts of social workers and local youth, Pathak called their contribution a true form of service. He reaffirmed the Punjab government's commitment to adequate compensation and speedy restoration of normalcy. PTI COR SUN ANM ANM MIN MIN