FAZILKA – The receding Sutlej floodwaters in Fazilka villages have left a trail of immense destruction, with the majority of roads either completely washed away or rendered impassable for motor vehicles. This widespread devastation, a direct result of the Fazilka flood damage, is now posing new challenges for local residents.
According to initial estimates, 4,200 houses have been badly damaged across 111 affected villages. The floods also destroyed crops on over 62,000 acres of land. A senior Punjab Mandi Board official said the floodwaters had damaged nearly 127 km of the road network, including 48 link roads that have entirely disappeared. The board requires an immediate assistance of ₹20 crore to repair the roads as per initial estimates. Work has already begun to restore traffic in some areas.
Villagers expressed their frustration with the destroyed infrastructure. “Vehicles, including tractors, can’t be taken out on roads due to the large-scale damage,” said Surinder Singh of Ram Singh Bhaini. Karnail Singh of Teja Ruhela village added that besides the silt deposited in the fields, the devastated road network is another major issue that needs priority attention.
The lack of infrastructure has led to a secondary crisis. Villagers highlighted the collapse of toilet pits, forcing residents to resort to open defecation and raising serious health concerns. Gurmeet Singh, a resident, said nearly 200 such pits had been destroyed in Chak Ruhela and Teja Ruhela villages alone. The stagnant water in some areas has started to emanate a foul smell, further increasing the threat of disease outbreaks. The situation is compounded by theft, with seven water motors stolen from Korianwali village in the past two days.
Former Congress MLA Mohinder Kumar Rinwa has called for a special package for the area and financial relief for laborers, underlining the wide-ranging impact of the floods.