Rs 2.5-crore home destroyed, family lives in tent, tries to salvage leftover

Jugraj Singh, a non-resident Indian (NRI), took nine years to build his dream home by spending his entire savings that he earned while working in a farm in Italy.

Their palatial house constructed at Rs 2.5 crore in Amritsar’s Ghonewal village couldn’t withstand the gushing Ravi waters last month and collapsed.

The family, including Jugraj’s parents and younger brother Ajaypal, is now living in a tent put up on top of the enclosure for cattle.

Jugraj has returned to Italy, hoping to earn enough to rebuild the house. His marriage, which was scheduled for December, was also cancelled.

Moved by their plight, several Good Samaritans tried to help them.

The family said a singer, a Gulf-based NRI, people from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh gave them in total Rs 14 lakh, a fraction of their loss.

The contractors that approached them to clear the debris demanded Rs 3 lakh for it.

Jugraj’s mother Sukhjinder Kaur says after the floodwaters receded, they salvaged the gold ornaments they had painstakingly made for the marriage of their two sons.

Ajaypal said his brother left for Italy after the tragedy struck. He said earlier it had taken them nine years to construct the house, the funds for which were provided by Jugraj. These days, the family members clean bricks with a hope to reuse these.

Jugraj’s father Sardul Singh said it would take years for his sons to rebuild the house.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said the administration had reached out to the families whose houses were damaged. “At Ghonewal village, we will shortly be able to rehabilitate and repair houses,” she said highlighting the help being provided by the Sun Foundation, a non-profit body.