A massive joint rescue operation carried out by the Border Security Force (BSF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) brought relief to flood-hit Punjab as more than 1,200 villagers trapped in inundated low-lying areas were evacuated to safety over the past 24 hours. The coordinated effort came amid fresh warnings from the Irrigation Department that rising levels in the Beas and Sutlej rivers could worsen the crisis in the coming days.
The most affected districts included Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Ferozepur, and parts of Hoshiarpur, where overflowing river waters breached embankments and entered farmlands and residential pockets. Authorities said several villages were left cut off, prompting emergency deployment of boats, life jackets, and medical support. Helicopters were kept on standby as a precautionary measure, while relief camps were set up to provide shelter and food to displaced families.
Eyewitnesses reported harrowing scenes, with families wading through waist-deep waters carrying essentials and elderly villagers rescued on makeshift rafts. Children and livestock were given priority during evacuations, as rescue teams navigated through strong currents and submerged roads. “We had no way to reach the main road, our homes were surrounded by water. The BSF teams came in time and took us to safety,” said one villager in Gurdaspur, recalling the panic of the last two days.
Officials confirmed that the operation was one of the largest single-day flood rescues in Punjab this year. The BSF, usually tasked with guarding the India-Pakistan border, deployed its specialized flood-relief units along the frontier belts, where waterlogging posed a dual challenge of both disaster management and security vigilance. Meanwhile, the NDRF sent additional battalions from its Mohali base to assist in evacuation and provide medical care.
State authorities acknowledged that continuous rainfall in the Himalayan region had forced heavy releases from upstream dams, including Bhakra and Pong, putting immense pressure on Punjab’s rivers. “The situation remains critical, but our priority is saving lives. All departments are working in tandem to ensure there are no lapses,” a senior government spokesperson said.
While relief camps are functional, concerns are growing about waterborne diseases and damage to crops. Farmers in the Doaba and Malwa regions have already reported heavy losses to paddy fields submerged for over a week. The state government has promised compensation, though opposition leaders criticized the response as “too little, too late,” demanding a comprehensive disaster management strategy for Punjab.
Experts also warned that repeated flooding in the state highlights deeper ecological challenges, including unchecked sand mining, weakening of embankments, and shrinking natural drainage channels. They emphasized the need for long-term planning beyond immediate evacuation efforts.
For now, however, the focus remains on relief. Volunteers, gurdwaras, and NGOs have joined hands with official teams to provide cooked meals, drinking water, and essential supplies in makeshift camps. With rainfall predictions still uncertain, the state machinery is on high alert for possible fresh evacuations in the coming week.
This is a web-generated news report.
