Away from limelight: State Disaster Response Force men, villagers unsung heroes of floods

Fifty-year-old Jathedar Babar Singh, along with trusty associates Jagmohan Singh and 19-year-old Sahilpreet (workers of the Sarhali Sahib dera), has heaved hundreds of 20 kg sacks onto his back to evacuate people within hours. Together, they’ve saved thousands marooned in flood waters.

As a volley of politicians and VVIPs climb atop borrowed “beris” (boats) for 30 minute photo ops of the flood-hit areas. A bunch of men oblivious to the lure of the camera, put hundreds of hours of back breaking work in the water-ravaged areas of Sultanpur Lodhi to save homes, children, women, cows, goats and rabbits. Deep tans, blistered feet and lack of sleep are no deterrent for them as, flooded by SOS calls the day through, they race against the river’s currents to rescue stranded villagers. Several policemen, Army teams (who refuse to speak) and teams of Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal also remain deputed throughout the day on the bandh, working through rain and sunshine tirelessly for hours altogether.

Paramjit Singh

Paramjit Singh’s face is deeply tanned, shirt soiled, beard wet and eyes blood shot. He hasn’t slept for days, but duty calls. Even at 12 am he responds. Hundreds owe their lives to him. He has consoled grandmothers, cradled sleeping children, retrieved toy cycles and teddy bears or crying kids, lifted phenomenal weights and evacuated reluctant dwellers in hours. Due to his efforts, surplus ration has been honestly delivered across villages through a WhatsApp group. When the waters weren’t this deep, he ferried supplies every day. He is off at 7 am each day, returning late after visiting remote villages. His son Gurasis Singh and brother Gumreet Singh (Sarpanch of Baupur village) are also engaged in relief work. Paramjit is the best guy when it comes to navigating boats in the challenging currents which turns villages into oceans and fells houses. People across flood-hit villages also vouch for his honesty. At Rampur Gaura village, he spends hours evacuating a family even amidst threat from rising waters.

He says, “Every second year floods ravage the region with widespread devastation. There is huge devastation. If the community doesn’t stand up for each other, who will? The entire village is working to provide aide relief to those affected. We are also thankful to all those who came from far to lend help.”

Deepak Kumar

During the 2023 floods, SDRF’s Deepak Kumar evacuated 509 people from their homes. This time, he has already evacuated 375 villagers. Armed by his team of 15 men, Deepak toils in the heat, dust and rain in the frog and snake infested environs of the flood-hit villages to ferry countless people to safety. As the sun hammered down on the hot humid Baupur village bandh days ago, he was busy responding to medical emergencies all afternoon. When rains reduced visibility on the Beas river, he reportedly rescued 200 people. Deepak Kumar says, “It is an honour to be their ray of hope. Even until now many refuse to leave from their homes. This year, the currents are challenging. But when someone calls, you can’t leave them waiting.”

Jathedar Babar Singh

Jathedar Babar Singh, a resident of Saruwal village in Sultanpur Lodhi, is a sewadar of the Sarhali Sahib Dera under Baba Sukha Singh. He has been witness to floods in 1985, 1988, 1993, 2008, 2019 and 2023. His feet are blistered with long hours in the water saving people, but his spirit is resilient. The 50-year-old lifts sacks like a 20-year-old. In the 2023 floods, his house was the first base camp for rescued villagers. Even today, many take refuge at Saruwal village, due to his patronage. The elderly Baba, moved by his brethren’s plight, has spent much time on boat rides with tears rolling down his cheeks. His only plea, “These villages have borne much pain. There should be an end to this misery. Solutions must be sought.”

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Jalandhar