Selfless service in Punjab

WHEN calamity strikes, it is often Punjabis who rush to the frontlines. The current floods in the state, which have left more than three lakh people affected and farmland submerged across 23 districts, once again revealed the instinctive solidarity of the people. Long before official convoys arrived, villagers launched boats into raging waters, rescuing neighbours, children and livestock. Langar kitchens were lit, makeshift shelters set up and rations shared without hesitation. This spirit is not new. Punjabis have earned a reputation as “first responders” not only in their own land but in disaster zones across the world — from earthquakes in Turkey to floods in Kerala. Organisations such as Khalsa Aid, United Sikhs, Hemkunt Foundation and countless local gurdwaras mobilised swiftly this year, delivering food, water, medicine and fodder. Volunteers in Gurdaspur and Kapurthala waded through waist-deep water to evacuate the vulnerable, while veterinary teams cared for stranded cattle in rural areas.

Financial help is also flowing in, with NGOs, philanthropists, and even artistes pledging to support families in rebuilding. A Punjabi celebrity has promised assistance for 200 homes, underlining how cultural figures are stepping in alongside community groups to restore dignity after devastation. To their credit, the state and Central agencies — the NDRF, the SDRF, Army, Air Force — have deployed boats, helicopters and relief camps. Yet, the most striking images remain of villagers turning tractor trolleys into lifeboats and diaspora groups wiring funds overnight.

This culture of seva — selfless service — has been tested time and again. But recovery cannot rest on goodwill alone. Punjab now needs faster compensation, transparent crop assessments and coordinated rebuilding of homes and fields. If government systems and civil society harness their energies together, Punjab’s resilience can turn this flood into not only a story of survival but of renewal.