Fresh rain spell has villagers in fear

Villagers from flood-affected regions, who had just returned to their homes after weeks of hardships, are again living in fear as the fresh spell of rain has threatened to undo their difficult recovery.

After struggling to rebuild their lives, many families had started to clean and repair their homes, hoping to return to normalcy. However, the return of rain has brought back painful memories of the devastation they previously endured.

“We had just started picking up the pieces,” said Satnam from one of the worst-hit villages. “Now every drop of rain makes us anxious. We don’t know if we’ll have to leave our homes again.”

He shared that his house had developed cracks and he along with his family were sleeping under a cowshed as the rooms were not safe to sleep.

Paramjit Singh, a farmer leader from Baupur village, said the water levels rose again after which there is a sense of fear again. "Nothing is clear what will happen," he said.

The emotional and financial toll on villagers has been immense.

Flooding in the Sutlej had led to severe erosion of its embankment and washed away portions of land where houses had been built, tragedy struck Mandala Channa village in Shahkot subdivision. Four houses belonging to daily wage labourers were reduced to last month.

The houses belonged to four brothers -- Channa Singh, Sona Singh, Jagdish Singh and the late Prem Singh -- whose families are now displaced and distraught. They have currently taken temporary shelter at the residence of village sarpanch Satnam Singh.

The farmers now say that it would be difficult now to rebuild their lives.