Floods unite neighbours across border

If politics divides, tragedy unites. Weeks after leaders of Haryana and Punjab were locked in a bitter war of words over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, ordinary people from both states are demonstrating solidarity as floods devastate large parts of Punjab.

Thousands have been displaced and stranded in Punjab, but aid has been pouring in from across the border. From individuals to khap panchayats to NGOs, Haryana residents have rallied to help their neighbours. A Bhiwani-based NGO has been delivering food and water to marooned families for the past five days.

Sirsa’s Birender Singh of Dera Jagmalwali personally visited flood-hit villages, distributing relief material and assuring affected families shelter. “Arrangements for food, housing and even livestock care have been made at the Arniwala Dera,” he announced.

In Hisar, the Pagdi Sambhal Jatta Kisan Sangharsh Samiti mobilised villagers of Kabrel to send 20 sacks of potatoes, 10 sacks of onions, 300 cartons of bottled water, 22 cartons of biscuits, 12 sacks of rice and other essentials in two pickup vans to the affected districts.

Community spirit was also on display in Jind, where Morakhi villagers pooled wheat, flour, sugar, oil, clothes and medicines for flood victims in Patiala. Safidon’s Haat village sent 110 sacks of wheat, while residents of Bhambhewa, Pillukhera and nearby villages gathered supplies after public announcements. Villagers from Chhatar, Karsindhu, Ghogrian, Gurthali and Khapad joined in too.

The Naugama Khap in Jind passed a resolution to send foodgrains and essentials through their panchayats. “The first consignment has already been dispatched from Naugama Khap and neighbouring villages to Patiala and Mansa districts,” khap leaders said.

This humanitarian gesture comes against the backdrop of decades of political discord over water sharing. The Ravi-Beas division under the 1985 Rajiv-Longowal accord, which earmarked 17.17 MAF of water, was opposed by Haryana leaders including Devi Lal, who launched the Nyaya Yudh. The Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal remains unfinished, fuelling disputes between successive governments.

“Despite occasional election-time flare-ups, people from both states continue to have warm ties,” observed Prof Sampat Singh. CB Sheoran, retired chief engineer of the Haryana Irrigation Department, noted that the issue still pinches both sides.

Now, with floodwaters rising, residents are setting aside political divides. Humanity, once again, has prevailed over hostility.