Over100 tractors engaged daily to fill up massive crater in Kapurthala

It has now been 50 days since Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal has been continuously working to support flood-affected people in the Baupur Mand area. The 32-km embankment, built by farmers to stop the Beas waters, had breached at eight points. The actual scale of destruction caused by these breaches is still immeasurable, but Seechewal has been on the ground helping the affected families since August 11.

Everyday, Seechewal dedicates nearly 12 hours — from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. — to flood relief work. Travelling daily from Sultanpur Lodhi straight to Baupur Mand, he not only coordinates tractors that have come from Punjab and other states to level farmlands, but also joins the effort, riding tractors and helping fill breaches. Currently, he is focused on filling a massive crater, 35-40 feet deep, in the fields of four farmers from Bhaini Kadar Bakhsh village.

Rakesh Shanti Doot, president of “Jagda Punjab,” said an MP, devoting this much time every day for flood victims is a historic example that will inspire the future generations. He added that if political leaders across the country worked with the same dedication as Seechewal, people would stop calling politics a dirty game.

Today, around 100 tractors were engaged in filling up the crater. The pit is so deep that for the last seven days, nearly 100 tractors have been dumping soil into it daily. Seechewal has dedicated all his time to flood relief, even cancelling his planned foreign visit to remain with the affected people. Earlier, tractors had to be driven through water to reach the Bhaini Kadar Bakhsh embankment. To ease the effort, an alternative route was built, allowing smooth tractor access to the site.