Hundreds of cattle vanish in Punjab floods, may have been swept into Pak

In flood-ravaged Ghonewal village of Ajnala in Amritsar district, one buffalo each belonging to Baldev Singh, Baljit Singh and Mukhtar Singh is missing.

“As we return to our homes after the floods, the trauma of the devastation of our fields and houses has been compounded by these missing animals. They were probably swept away in the strong currents of the Ravi. We do not know how to begin rebuilding our lives,” the farmers told The Tribune.

Related news: Emergency animal relief launched in flood-hit areas of Punjab

Rain-hit villages of Sultanpur Lodhi face long road to recovery

The Ghonewal farmers are not alone in their grief. As many as 373 cattle have gone missing in Punjab’s flood-affected areas. With no carcasses found, it is now presumed that the animals were swept away by the gushing waters of the Ravi towards Pakistan.

Officials in the state Animal Husbandry Department have said that of the 3.60 lakh livestock affected by the floods, 534 cattle, besides thousands of poultry birds, goats, foals and horses have died.

It is learnt that on the night of August 26-27, as the incessant rains swelled the Ravi, especially around the Ujh barrage and Dharamkot in Gurdaspur, several whirlpools were formed in the river. A senior district officer, requesting anonymity, said these high-velocity whirlpools might have sucked in cattle from the floodplains of the river, abutting its banks. As the natural flow of the Ravi is towards Pakistan, the animals were most likely swept away, he said.

“As the waters recede, we have also seen how these whirlpools have washed away large tracts of land along the banks and small islands formed by silt deposition are now emerging near Ujh,” the officer added.

Manjit Singh, a Gurdaspur farmer who owns land in the enclave across the Ravi, said as the waters rose, people climbed onto rooftops but many left their cattle tied in sheds. “Some farmers untied their animals hoping they would wade to safer areas, but the strong currents swept them away. It is not just a financial loss, but an emotional one too,” he said.

“As of now, 373 cattle remain missing without a trace, according to the preliminary report,” said Rahul Bhandari, Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry Department. “It is believed they have been swept into Pakistan in the strong currents of the Ravi. They are unlikely to have survived and are presumed dead. Final verification is under way, after which due compensation will be given to the owners.”

Under the disaster management rules, Rs 37,500 is awarded for each milch animal lost.

Officials said the figures were drawn from the recent livestock census, conducted only months before the floods, which put the state’s livestock population at 68.03 lakh, including 22.99 lakh cattle and 34.93 lakh buffaloes. This database is now serving as a reference for verifying losses and awarding compensation, they said.