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- One of these groups, the Kar Sewa sect of Guru Ka Bagh, has been working to plug a massive 500-metre-long and up to 40-feet-deep breach in the bundh at Ghonewal village in Ramdass.
- In the face of overwhelming loss, they are not only plugging breaches in embankments but also in the morale of communities, offering both material aid and hope for recovery.
- Baba Sukha Singh recalled that in 2023, his organisation’s relief efforts lasted from July to October and pledged that this year, the work will continue until every breached riverbank is restored and every displaced family is resettled.
Amid one of the worst flood crises in recent memory, volunteers, religious groups, and community leaders rally to aid relief and rescue efforts.
As torrential rains and cloudbursts in Himachal Pradesh swelled the Ravi, Beas, and Satluj rivers, Punjab has been left grappling with unprecedented floods that have devastated vast stretches of land. In this time of crisis, religious organisations, NGOs, philanthropists, and prominent Punjabi personalities — from actors and singers to political leaders — have joined hands to provide much-needed relief.
Among these tireless contributors, two Kar Sewa sects have emerged as lifelines for flood-affected communities. Their efforts span from supplying food, essential goods, and medicines to rescuing stranded residents and even providing fodder for displaced livestock. They have also taken on the critical task of repairing and reinforcing dhussi bundhs — earthen embankments — to prevent further destruction.
One of these groups, the Kar Sewa sect of Guru Ka Bagh, has been working to plug a massive 500-metre-long and up to 40-feet-deep breach in the bundh at Ghonewal village in Ramdass. The breach, among 14 that occurred in the Ajnala subdivision, has submerged entire areas from Ramdass to Rajasansi and Lopoke. Villages like Ghonewal and Machhiwal have borne the brunt of the disaster, with numerous homes collapsing under floodwaters.
In parallel, the Sampardai Kar Sewa Sarhali, led by Baba Sukha Singh, has been fortifying bundhs near Baupur Jadid in Kapurthala’s Sultanpur Lodhi tehsil. The swelling Beas eroded these protective barriers, leaving surrounding villages vulnerable. Sarhali’s team was among the first on the ground, bringing not only manpower but also equipment like water boats to reach marooned families.
Currently, embankment repairs are ongoing in Tarn Taran district’s Marar, Kiriyan, and Sabhra villages, as well as at Ghonewal along the Ravi. Baba Sukha Singh recalled that in 2023, his organisation’s relief efforts lasted from July to October and pledged that this year, the work will continue until every breached riverbank is restored and every displaced family is resettled.
As Punjab battles the waters, the actions of these Kar Sewa sects exemplify the state’s deep-rooted tradition of sewa — selfless service. In the face of overwhelming loss, they are not only plugging breaches in embankments but also in the morale of communities, offering both material aid and hope for recovery.
