Punjab Floods: A Tragedy of Loss, Spirit, and Silence

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As Punjab reels under devastating floods, stories of resilience emerge—but questions over governance, environmental neglect, and media silence cannot be ignored.

By TRH State Desk

CHANDIGARH, September 5, 2025 — Floodwaters have swallowed Punjab’s villages, leaving behind submerged homes, stranded families, and a landscape scarred by loss. Yet, what emerges amid the wreckage is not only tragedy, but also the unmatched resilience of Punjab’s people—and the silences that surround their suffering.

Videos circulating online are unbearable to watch: animals swept away by swollen rivers, helpless and voiceless in their final moments. “The pain is unimaginable,” wrote Vidit Sharma on X, capturing the grief of countless viewers.

The human toll is no less heart-wrenching. Rising waters of the Ghaggar have cut off villages near Rajpura for days, plunging lives into standstill—roads gone, crops ruined, homes broken, and shortages of electricity, fodder, and medicines deepening despair.

And yet, Punjab responds as Punjab always does—with spirit. Harbhajan Singh, the former cricketer, shared a story that speaks volumes: a flood-ravaged family, stripped of nearly everything, still served tea to the volunteers who had come to help. “That’s the spirit of Panjab,” he wrote.

Across villages, families with safe homes have turned them into kitchens, shelters, and storage for neighbours and volunteers. Olympic medallist Rupinder Pal Singh himself was seen distributing relief in Gurdaspur. Ratan Dhillon described it best: “This is Punjab where every household is stepping up for flood relief. Not just for people, but for the voiceless souls too.”

But resilience must not be mistaken for absolution. The Supreme Court has already taken note, issuing notices on illegal deforestation, after images showed logs of wood carried downstream in Himachal. Punjab’s floods are not merely acts of nature—they are products of neglect, short-sighted planning, and an ecological crisis we keep postponing until disaster strikes.

The politics of silence also looms large. Singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh used his platform to raise awareness, continuing his history of speaking up for Punjab during crises. Yet, as social media users pointed out, Bollywood and national media remain largely muted, unwilling to risk narratives that could hurt careers or upset the establishment.

Meanwhile, danger continues to brew. Punjab’s Minister Harjot Singh Bains has warned that the Bhakra Dam is within a foot of its danger mark, and 10,000 cusecs of water will be released into the Sutlej. Residents along the banks are already being moved to safety.

Commentators have called the flood as a tragedy not just a test of Punjab’s spirit, but also India’s conscience. The images of stranded families, drowning animals, and volunteers braving rising waters call out for a national response.

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