Dhakka Basti hit by floods again, families in despair

Worried and helpless, Malkit Singh from Madala Channa village, along with his brother, makes the daily journey to Dhakka Basti, Lohian, to check on his paddy fields—submerged under floodwaters. A marginal farmer, Malkit depends entirely on his land for survival. But for the second time in two years, his hopes lie drowned.

As he prepares to board a boat to assess the extent of the damage, Malkit shares his anguish with The Tribune. “We suffered the same devastation during last year’s floods in 2023. Now it’s happening again. We come here every day by boat, hoping that some fields could be saved,” he says, visibly heartbroken. Around him, the atmosphere is filled with despair.

Dhakka Basti remains one of the worst-affected areas in the region. Even the only Government Primary School in the village lies underwater, leaving children unable to attend classes. Education, like livelihood, has come to a standstill.

During a visit to the area, scenes of devastation are everywhere—houses inundated, belongings destroyed and families forced to abandon their homes. Many have taken shelter on the nearby bundh, living in makeshift arrangements without access to basic necessities.

Surjit Singh, a local daily wager, stands near the water’s edge. “We’ve seen this situation before,” he says quietly. “Nothing has changed. Only the year,” remarks an elderly villager.

For 13-year-old Suneha Kaur, who lost her cycle in the 2023 floods, it is difficult to face the same situation again. “In a few days, we have exams, but we can’t even study in such difficult circumstances,” she says. For families like Malkit’s and Surjit’s, the floods are not just a natural disaster—they are a repeated blow to survival.