SGPC president assures full support to flood-hit villages near Sultanpur Lodhi

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Friday afternoon met representatives from the area’s flood-affected villages at Gurdwara Sri Ber Sahib, Sultanpur Lodhi, and assured them of every possible assistance from the committee.

Listening to their concerns, Dhami strongly criticised the state government for having failed to prevent large-scale devastation, saying the floods were not merely a natural calamity but the direct outcome of state negligence.

Dhami remarked that had water been released gradually from the dams in time, the situation across the state would not have turned so catastrophic. He alleged that the government abandoned people at their most difficult hour, leaving them to handle tasks that were the state’s responsibility. “Strengthening embankments was a duty of the authorities, yet residents themselves are being forced to place mud and reinforce the bunds to safeguard their villages,” he said.

During the interaction, Dhami outlined the immediate measures being undertaken by the SGPC. He announced that the committee had arranged 38,000 liters of diesel for local communities engaged in strengthening embankments, of which, 8,000 liters were distributed on the spot. He added that Ahli Kalan, which has the longest stretch of embankments, was allocated 20,000 liters of diesel, while other villages, including Baupur, Dhunda, Chakkwala and Sagran also received supplies.

Looking beyond immediate relief, Dhami revealed that arrangements were being made to provide wheat seed for nearly 1,00,000 acres of land in collaboration with Punjab Agricultural University to ensure quality supply. Additionally, each gurdwara in affected areas will be extended financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to support the local rehabilitation works.

Dhami reiterated that although the SGPC’s financial resources were limited, standing shoulder to shoulder with the residents in times of suffering was part of its heritage and duty. He added that the committee had urged the government to waive taxes on diesel being provided for relief work, but this demand has so far been ignored.

Appealing to the wider Sikh community, Dhami called for maximum support to strengthen the relief efforts. He, along with SGPC members, also visited the embankment site at Ahli Kalan to review ongoing work and personally handed over diesel for tractors engaged in strengthening the bunds.

Local residents expressed gratitude to the SGPC for extending timely help, calling it a source of immense reassurance amid distress. They voiced hope that the organisation would continue to stand with them in the future as well.

Prominent among those present on the occasion were SGPC members Jarnail Singh Dogranwala, Gurmeet Singh Buh, Boota Singh, Gurpreet Kaur, Secretary Pratap Singh, former secretary Mahinder Singh Ahli, along with functionaries of Gurdwara Sri Ber Sahib and local residents.