Heavy rains weaken Sutlej embankments, residents slam government inaction

Villagers residing along the Sutlej river have raised serious concerns about weakened embankments caused by recent heavy rains, which have led to increased soil erosion and the threat of flooding. Locals fear for the safety of homes, roads and farmlands as sections of the riverbank continue to erode without intervention.

Residents allege that no government officials have yet inspected the damaged sites. They have demanded immediate repairs to prevent disaster during the ongoing monsoon season.

Sukhwinder Singh Gill of Gaunsgarh village said, “It was in March that we protested against the commercial tippers which were destroying our roads to a miserable extent. The tippers were stopped after that but unfortunately allowed passage from other leakage points. Now as the banks are in an eroded state, no senior official or authority concerned has visited the riverbank till now. It’s an alarming issue as the monsoon has already reached Punjab.”

Former sarpanch Balwinder Singh of Noormahal pointed out that villages such as Kasabad, Jamalpur Lela, Boothgarh, Mangat, Gaunsgarh and Sasurali Colony are at risk. “The roads have been destroyed by the tippers which work in connivance with the authorities. As the water level rises, it automatically flows towards these villages, putting them in a tight spot,” he alleged.

Tajparminder Singh of Boothgarh added, “It is the same story every year. Only when floodwaters enter the villages do officials arrive for a temporary patch-up. Despite repeated damage, no government official has visited to assess the situation. We urge immediate intervention—otherwise, we would have been flooded long back.”

BJP Punjab spokesperson Pritpal S Baliewal, in a letter to the Chief Minister, blamed illegal mining and overloaded tippers for the weakened bunds. “Punjab has already suffered immense loss due to flooding. We simply cannot afford another disaster—particularly one that is man-made and preventable,” he wrote.

ADC (General) Ludhiana Rohit Gupta said he was in constant contact with the Drainage Department. “The situation is completely under control and there is no reason to panic. Tenders have been opened and work on the embankments will begin in the next two to three days,” he stated.

Ludhiana