Life slowly returns to normal in flood-hit mand

After more than a month of devastation, life in the mand region is cautiously inching back to normal as flood waters from the Beas begin to recede. The falling water level has brought much-needed relief to villagers who had been battling flood fury for over 30 days.

Where boats once ferried relief supplies, tractors are now making their way into villages, delivering aid directly at people’s doorsteps. For many families, this marks a significant step toward recovery. Cooking fires that had long gone cold have been rekindled, signalling a return of daily life.

On Wednesday morning, Rajya Sabha member and environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal drove to Baupur village to distribute food and supplies, something impossible just days earlier when flood waters cut off the access. Villagers have also begun returning with their cattle, determined to rebuild their homes and lives.

Despite the receding waters, the damage is overwhelming. Vast stretches of farmland lie ruined. Farmer leader Kuldeep Singh Sangra, who has witnessed multiple floods over decades — from 1988 to 2023 — described this year’s disaster as unprecedented. According to him, nearly 3,500 acres of paddy fields across 16-17 villages have been destroyed, wiping out what was the most profitable crop for farmers in the region.

Though some low-lying areas of the Mand still remain under one or two feet of stagnant water, residents have begun salvaging what they can, spreading household goods out in the sun to dry.