Flashfloods triggered by the Chakki Mirthal surge in Pathankot have wreaked havoc across Kapurthala district, submerging thousands of acres of farmland. The Beas River, swollen from the unexpected rush of water, spilled into low-lying fields across multiple sub-divisions including Dhilwan, Bholath, and Sultanpur Lodhi. Farmers are now grappling with severe crop losses, even as officials downplay the scale of the damage.
Temporary Embankments Breached; Villages Heavily Affected
The flooding worsened after breaches occurred in temporary “aarzi bandhs” (makeshift embankments) at Sagarpur and Passan Kadim villages. The resulting deluge submerged vast farmlands and forced several Gujjar shepherd families in Chakoki and Passan Kadim to relocate their livestock to higher ground.
Villages hit hardest include Mand Habibwal, Tandi, Raipur Araiyan, Daudpur, Mirzapur, Butala, Dhilwan, Sherpur Dogra, and Dhunda. In these areas, standing paddy crops, along with maize and vegetable patches, have been completely inundated.
“No Help from Officials,” Say Angry Farmers
Naishan Singh, a farmer from Passan Kadim, reported that his 6–7 acres of paddy are now under filthy floodwater. “In our village, almost every farmer has lost their crops. Some lost up to 15 acres. The crops won’t survive in this dirty water,” he lamented. “We approached officials several times. Even the authorities in Harike were asked to divert water, but nothing was done.”
Chakkoki village sarpanch Jagtar Singh echoed the sentiment, saying, “Every monsoon, our villages flood. But there’s still no permanent solution. We feel abandoned by the administration.”
Officials Term Situation “Temporary” and “Under Control”
Khushminder Singh, SDO of the Drainage Department in Kapurthala, stated that the situation is not due to rainfall in hilly areas or dam water release but rather because of flashfloods in Chakki Mirthal. “The flooding is confined to floodplains, and water levels are significantly lower than last year—around 75,600 cusecs compared to 1.5 lakh cusecs in 2023,” he said. “Water is already receding. There’s no major crop damage or threat to residential areas.”
However, farmers in the Mand region—situated near the Sutlej-Beas confluence—disagree. They argue that the current flooding is just the latest in a series of recurring disasters. Previous floods in 1988, 1994, 2019, and 2023 have caused substantial agricultural damage in the same region.
Floodwater Threatens Food Security and Rural Livelihoods
The affected farmers are calling for urgent financial aid and transparent compensation for their crop losses. Many are also urging the state government to implement long-term infrastructure solutions—such as permanent embankments and flood-control systems—to mitigate future risks.
The Mand area, still reeling from the aftermath of the 2023 floods, had barely recovered from heavy sediment deposits left behind. For local farmers, this season’s flashfloods feel like a cruel repeat of a never-ending crisis.
Will the Government Act Before It’s Too Late?
Despite repeated warnings and recurring disasters, the administration’s reactive approach has left Punjab’s farming community vulnerable. As floodwaters slowly recede, the real question remains—will the authorities implement lasting flood mitigation measures, or will farmers continue to suffer year after year?
For now, Kapurthala’s farmers wait, not just for the water to drain, but for justice, compensation, and a promise of safety in the seasons ahead.