As this year's monsoon in Punjab wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh and neighbouring states like Punjab and Rajasthan, the Sutlej river emerged as a central character in this narrative of devastation.
A sombre truth looms large in the heart of Punjab, where the rhythm of life dances to the tune of the Sutlej river, the longest, and its tributary Beas that flow southwest into the plains from the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh. This truth paints a vivid picture of the climate change and its profound impact on this fertile land. A Punjabi saying encapsulates this reality: “Dariaava’n nu bann nahi lagde hunde”, or rivers do not recognise boundaries.
This year’s monsoon further reinforces this inescapable fact, as the season that once bore the promise of abundance, brought with it unprecedented floods. The rivers swelled from water gushing downstream following relentless rain in the mountains in two devastating spells this summer, shattering the lives of those who call Punjab home.
The Sutlej river emerged as a central character in this narrative of devastation, rewriting its own course with ruthless abandon. American space agency NASA bore witness to this transformation. In a striking visual tale, satellite images dated June 16 and August 19 showcased the dramatic shift in the river’s flow along the India-Pakistan border. It had widened its embrace, inundating vast swathes of land.
Climate change, once whispered as an impending threat, had thundered into reality, unleashing heavy rainfall with a vengeance. Over the past half-century, the rhythm of rainfall had altered, giving rise to extreme weather phenomena — torrential downpours, merciless cold snaps, scorching heatwaves — all took their turn on this ever-changing stage. The Sutlej river, in particular, bore the brunt of this climatic upheaval.
In July, the Bhakra Dam’s water level surged, almost reaching its maximum capacity of 1,681 feet. Desperate measures were taken to release the pent-up waters, contributing to widespread flooding that devoured roads, fields and lives.
As the heavens wept, Himachal Pradesh became the epicentre of this meteorological maelstrom. In just five days, from July 7 to 11, the state absorbed a staggering 30 percent of its entire monsoon season’s rainfall. Continuous, unyielding rain for over 60 hours tested the resilience of the people.
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The Sutlej river, born and nourished by the Himalayas, swelled with an uncontrollable rage. Despite the presence of multiple dams along its course, thousands of acres of precious land succumbed to the deluge. Ropar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Ferozepur – the main theatres of the Sutlej’s fury in Punjab – bore the scars of ravaged crops and inundated plains.
For many, like paddy farmer Avtar Singh of Mehma village in Ferozepur, the floodwaters were an insurmountable adversary.
“Usually, limited floodwater benefits our paddy fields, but this time, it was an unrelenting deluge that washed our hopes away. We couldn’t drain the water; we had nowhere to put it. Villagers entrusted it to the hands of fate,” Avtar Singh recounted.
Sukhwinder Singh, another farmer in Anandpur Sahib, shared his anguish. “I had never seen such a deluge in my life; everywhere, water reigned supreme. The Sutlej river, once our lifeline, had become a harbinger of doom.”
As the floodwaters carved new paths, the toll on human lives became apparent. At least 43 lives were claimed by the floods.
Prof Mehar Singh Gill, former head of the department of Geography at Punjabi University, Patiala, said, “The changing course of the Sutlej river can be attributed to two significant factors. First, there’s a global trend of all rivers shifting northward in the Northern Hemisphere. Secondly, human intervention and manipulation of these rivers through dams, canals and other structures have left an indelible mark.”
The dams within Punjab, while playing a pivotal role in water management, are ill-prepared to cope with floods, Gill added. “Our dams are not equipped to handle floods. It necessitates an entirely different engineering approach, including reservoirs to hold excess water, which is a monumental challenge,” he said.
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Harike Dam and Ferozepur headworks hesitated to release water due to the unsuitability of their structures for flood control. The torrents carried debris, trees and buildings, posing a grave threat to the dams’ integrity.
Also, human-made dams that have started to proliferate, holding back the waters in fields and beyond, bring another set of problems. When these dams rupture, they unleash a torrential deluge.
This year, the ramifications rippled far beyond Punjab’s borders. The floodwaters inundated neighbouring Rajasthan and Haryana as well.
In the aftermath, promises of compensation from government officials provided little solace. “Even as the area lay submerged, it was the people who worked tirelessly on the ground. The chief minister and officials visited, pledging assistance, but these promises remain unfulfilled,” Avtar Singh lamented.
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The lead image at the top shows the Sutlej river flowing through Himachal Pradesh. (Photo from Shutterstock)
Harinder Happy is a PhD scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
