Lifeline: Teenager delivers ration supply to flood-hit villagers

Back from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands after the death of both his parents as well as guardians, a 17-year-old has become the lifeline for his villager residents. The youth has been immersed in the service of villagers whose houses are inundated ever since floods hit Sultanpur Lodhi.

A resident of the island village of Baupur Jadid at Sultanpur Lodhi, Manpreet Singh (17) has been ferrying ration from the local gurdwara via a "beri" boat to the needy families of his village.

Come rain or sunshine, Manpreet sets out on a wooden raft everyday and heads to the local gurdwara, which acts as a relief camp, as ration for the village are being stocked there.

Armed with packs of water, food, ration and other needfuls, Manpreet traverses the village on the boat disbursing supplies to families who can't step out due to their houses lower stories being inundated.

While his aunt's family at Baupur is steeped in penury, it is on the two brothers (Manpreet and his brother Amrinder) and her two sons that she now pins hope for a better future. With a mere two acres of landholdings and two acres on contract, the family says they have been robbed of all their livelihood.

Jaswinder Kaur, Manpreet's aunt says, "In 2023, the floods left tonnes of silt in the fields. Barely had we recovered from that shock that the waters have damaged our crops again. We won't have anything to give for the contract land either, as all crops are lost. We are already reeling under debts."

Manpreet's family went to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with his grandfather who was serving in the Army and was posted there. While Manpreet's father died four years ago, his mother died when he was just two-year old. Left in the care of his grandmother, he and his brother returned to their native village Baupur Jadid a year ago after their grandmother died too.

The duo lives with his paternal aunt (bua) Jaswinder Kaur.

Having pursued studies till plus one at Andaman, Manpreet works as a mechanic. His elder brother Amarinder pursues a hotel management course in Chennai. The family sustains itself merely on milk from cattle.

Jaswinder says, "We have a modest house but thankfully due to being on a height, water did not come in. The moment we step outside, we need a boat. My younger son is in Gurdaspur with relatives and Manpreet's brother is in Chennai. We have three cows and two buffalos, milk from which keeps the hearth burning. Our neighbour's house was inundated, so their cattle are tied at our house. It was while helping them to get water that Manpreet started 'sewa' but now it's his routine."

While Manpreet is out to provide ration to nearby homes, Jaswinder says, "Our financial condition has been hit due to constant floods. Everyone now stacks six months of ration ahead of monsoons, yet the damage is so unpredictable, you never know what you're going to lose. Governments should find a solution for the debt-ridden families."

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Baupur Jadid hero

Come rain or sunshine, Manpreet sets out on a wooden raft everyday and heads to the local gurdwara, which acts as a relief camp, as ration for the village are being stocked there. Armed with packs of water, food, ration and other needfuls, Manpreet traverses the village on the boat disbursing supplies to families, who can't step out due to their houses lower stories being inundated.