Sandbags and spirit: Volunteers race against rising waters

On August 11, the river water first breached a bundh at Bhaini Bahadur village in Sultanpur Lodhi, affecting 17 villages in the area.

Water began seeping into the twin villages of Baupur Jadid and Baupur Kadim a fortnight ago, and has since risen by five to seven feet. Meanwhile, embankments at Sultanpur Lodhi have been breached at no fewer than five to seven locations."

While the past two days of relentless rain have intensified relief efforts, the groundwork began much earlier. An army of volunteers has been working tirelessly, day and night, to plug breaches—a race against time and the rapidly rising waters of the Beas river. This breach-plugging operation is largely a community-driven initiative, with villagers, local residents, and volunteers from across the state coming together to prevent further flooding in nearby villages."

The advance or temporary bandhs have so far been breached at Baupur (at two places), Sangra, Ahli Kalan and other areas – including several spots at Majha as well.

Men from Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and other places, backed by the teams of the Sarhali Sahib dera, which is headed by Baba Sukha Singh, have been on the job since August 11. Teams led by RS MP Balbir Singh Seechewal in turn have been working to plug breaches at the Ahli Kalan bandh.

As many as 150 to 250 men have been pressed into service by the Sarhali Dera’s team – an organization working for years to ensure relief to flood hit areas of the state.

Jagmohan Singh, who co-ordinates Sukha Singh’s team in his absence said, “Our teams are on the job at breaches at Baupur, Sangra, Ahli Kalan and in Majha as well. Lakh of sacks have been employed to plug the breaches. However, rains slow the progress at times. As soon as these stop, the men will be on the job again. ”

The biggest two breaches at Baupur are 350 feet and 600 feet long.

Jathedar Babar Singh, A village Saruwal native from Sultanpur Lodhi and a present resident of Sarhali said, “The water does not relent. It has been rising everyday. We began work on August 11. The high island houses and lands which were almost dry then, now have six to seven feet of water. Since then there has been four or five more breaches – some small, others big. The biggest breaches are at Baupur jaded and Kadim, followed by Ahli Kalan. Water threatens to fell homes, walls. It is difficult to plug breaches in the rain, but as soon as it stops, we begin again.”

Meanwhile, RS MP Balbir Singh Seechewal’s army of volunteers have also been working tirelessly to plug the Ahli Kalan breach. Seechewal’s volunteers also rescued and relocate 100 people, including women and children, from the most affected villages to safer places. Seechewal has also been accompanying all state ministers and CM during their visit to the flood affected areas.

Babar Singh adds, “Hordes come to the flood hit areas every day. 24x7 langar, water and sewa is organisaed by Baba Sukha Singh on the Baupur bandh. We have also rescued many people via boats since then. We had been working at Ahli Kalan days before the bandh broke yesterday. At any given bandh there are 25 to 50 men of ours deputed – which increase and decrease as per need. While work stopped here due to rains, we have also been working to plug breaches at the Dhussi bandh in Talwandi and at other places, including in Tarn Taran.”