Fazilka, August 6 — Continuous rainfall over the past several days has inundated standing paddy and cotton crops across nearly 20,000 acres in Punjab’s Fazilka district, with Fazilka sub-division emerging as the worst-hit zone.
According to official data, over 11,700 acres of farmland in at least 20 villages lie submerged, leaving thousands of farmers devastated as their crops rot in floodwater.
In Sarjana village, Gurmit Singh surveyed the damage to his fields. “No arrangements were made. We’re left on our own,” he said. “My entire crop has been destroyed, and there’s not even fodder left for the cattle.”
Local farmers have blamed the disaster on poor pre-monsoon desilting and clogged drainage systems, which failed to handle the heavy downpour. Sub-divisional officer (drainage) Jagdeep Singh confirmed that the flooding occurred due to water flowing down from higher elevation areas into the low-lying Fazilka belt.
In Tahliwala Bodla, Singhpura, and Chahlan villages, the situation remains dire. Crops on 1,500 acres have been reported damaged, prompting villagers to block the Fazilka-Malout road in protest, demanding immediate water drainage and relief.
“There is no option but to block the road. This is our only way to be heard,” said Sunil Kumar, sarpanch of Tahliwala Bodla. “Around 1,500 acres are ruined. This is not just a financial loss, it’s our survival at stake.”
Taking stock of the flood-hit areas, Deputy Commissioner Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu said pumps had been deployed to drain standing water from the fields.
Former cabinet minister Surjit Singh Jiyani, who visited the affected villages, criticised the administration for the lack of preparedness. “There should have been a proper and permanent plan for releasing rainwater in such vulnerable areas,” he said.
BJP district president Kaka Kamboj has demanded immediate compensation for the affected farmers. “These are genuine losses. The government must act fast,” he said.
Local AAP MLA Jagdeep Kamboj also toured the submerged fields and directed revenue officials to assess the damage. “I’ve instructed them to prepare reports urgently so that affected farmers can receive due compensation,” he said.
As more rain is forecast, anxiety is rising among farmers, who fear further damage and delayed recovery. With the kharif season at a critical stage, the extent of economic loss is expected to mount in the coming days.
