As water recedes, villagers to plug breaches at Sultanpur Lodhi

With water finally beginning to recede in flood-affected villages across Sutnapur Lodhi, villagers' prime focus is now ensuring the protection of the advance bundhs - many of which have developed gaping breaches during the floods which ravaged over 100 villages in Kapurthala. While many visitors, celebrities and citizens made rounds to the villages to pour in supplies, villagers said the real task begins now for which they need help.

At Baupur village alone, there have been 10 breaches for which kar sewa has begun. Villagers said while the sand accumulated across their crop land was a worry, they can only start desilting when the bundhs are plugged. Until then, their fields and villages will remain unsafe.

Baupur villager Pramajit Singh said, "We need tractors, JCBs and manpower to complete the bundh work. There have been 10 breaches around Baupur. Even water has not receded from all of the villages so, there are still areas which can't be reached by a tractor. We need to start plugging the breaches on a war footing so that the villages are secure. Only after that, can the work of desilting begin."

Villagers said the prime help they have received is from Sultanpur Lodhi MLA Rana Inder Partap, Sarhali Dera chief Baba Sukha Singh and his team and MP Balbir Singh Seechewal.

Paramjit Singh added, "Many people came to the villages and gave us ration and supplies. But the next phase of the bundh breaching work needs a completely different set of resources which won't be possible without help. We need manpower and tractor and JCBs to strenghten the embankments."