Daunting task of rebuilding lives after loss looms

A half-dried wedding album lies on the bed as a woman in her forties flips through the pages. Important documents, also laid out, are slowly drying, a grim reminder of the losses the family has endured.

Three days ago, when farmer Gurpreet Singh and his family returned to their home in Baupur Jadid village, they were confused from where to start. The floods had already destroyed the standing crop in all 30 acres of land— their sole source of livelihood.

“We didn’t know where to begin. Everything was under water,” says Gurpreet, his eyes scanning the belongings. Inside the house, his wife and daughter move from room to room, cleaning mud-stained floors. But the absence of electricity has made even basic recovery efforts dangerous.

“We don’t go inside properly. We are scared of snakes and insects. Light only comes at night,” Gurpreet’s wife says,

her voice heavy with fatigue and fear. The family spread their wet clothes and bedding on the terrace.

The journey ahead is uncertain. The financial blow of losing an entire crop season, combined with the damage to their home, has left the family in distress. For Gurpreet Singh, like many others in flood-hit Punjab, the road to recovery is

long and steep.

“We’ve lost everything. But we have to start again,” he says, standing barefoot near his

paddy fields which are now damaged.