Tractors in Punjab once dismissed as ‘nuisance vehicles’ become lifelines amid flood relief; their drivers real-life heroes

The very tractors once labeled as "nuisance vehicles" by Punjab authorities — fined for road violations and in some cases even impounded — have now become the state's most reliable rescue tools amid devastating floods.

As torrential rains continue to flood vast stretches of Punjab, from villages in Malwa to low-lying areas in Majha and Doaba, these tractors are venturing deep into submerged regions, rescuing stranded families and delivering critical supplies like food, drinking water, and medicine.

Once targeted during traffic drives for lacking proper permits or causing road obstructions, these rural workhorses have now emerged as true heroes on the ground.

In areas where government vehicles and emergency services cannot reach, tractors are moving through waist-deep water, undeterred by the conditions.

Even senior officials — including local SDMs, DSPs, and SHOs — are now seen riding these very tractors to navigate flood-hit zones.

This turnaround not only highlights the resilience of Punjab’s farming community but also reveals the deep disconnect that often exists between policy and ground realities. Villagers and tractor owners, many of whom had faced penalties in the past, are now volunteering their vehicles and risking their lives to help neighbours and strangers alike.

In the eyes of Punjab’s people, these tractors are no longer traffic violators — they are lifelines. And their drivers,  nothing short of real-life heroes.

In Punjab, over 1,000 villages have been affected by the floods in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and Amritsar districts. The Flood Control Room in Jalandhar can be reached at 0181-2240 064 for emergencies.

Meanwhile, emergency services are working round the clock to evacuate people from submerged areas, provide medical assistance, and ensure that food and water supplies reach those stranded.

Authorities have activated helplines for quick response:

• NDRF Control Room: 011-2343 8091

• All-in-One Emergency Number (India): 112