Fazilka — Torrential rain over the past four days has left standing crops submerged across nearly 20,000 acres in Fazilka district, plunging farmers into distress. With floodwaters drowning vast tracts of paddy and cotton fields, local farmers allege that administrative negligence and uncleaned drainage systems worsened the crisis.
The Fazilka subdivision, the hardest hit, reported 11,700 acres under water, according to official figures. Over 20 villages are grappling with the aftermath. Villagers in Saubana, located near the India-Pakistan border, said more than 500 acres were submerged. In Shajrana, a farmer claimed over 400 acres of paddy were damaged and 45 acres of fish farms were swept away by water from the Khui Khera drain.
Many residents blame the disaster on clogged or neglected drains. “The administration failed to clean the drains before the monsoon,” alleged Kishore Kumar, a panchayat member. Similar accusations surfaced in Tahliwala Bodla, Singhpura, and Chahlan villages, where around 1,500 acres of crops were damaged. Furious farmers staged a road blockade on the Fazilka-Malout highway, demanding swift action to remove stagnant water.
Despite the chaos, district officials remain optimistic. Deputy Commissioner Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu said staff and motor pumps were deployed to drain the floodwaters and assured that normalcy would return in a few days. SDO (Drainage) Jagdeep Singh explained that runoff from higher terrain contributed to the flooding in the low-lying Fazilka subdivision.
In Ferozepur, farmers demanded that the Hussainiwala barrage gates be opened to allow excess Sutlej water to flow toward Pakistan, warning of crop destruction if not addressed. Jasbir Singh, president of the Harh Peedit Kissan Sangharsh Committee, voiced the growing frustration among farmers fearing further loss.
Meanwhile, a traditional act of devotion unfolded in Basti Ram Lal village, where residents offered a gold nose ring and a cauldron of rice to the river, seeking protection from the floods.
In Abohar, farmers raised fresh concerns over the unchecked growth of hyacinth in the Abulkhurana drain. Despite repeated pleas for cleaning, Drainage Department officials claimed their funds had been fully utilized. The drain, fed by three others from Malout and Lambi, remains choked. SDO Rahul Jain confirmed that the cleaning was done with available resources but acknowledged the limited capacity.
As fields stay underwater and frustration boils over, Fazilka’s farming community continues to struggle alone, demanding both immediate relief and accountability.
