Farmer Alleges Ignored Warnings on Ravi River Bundh Led to Devastating Floods; PM Modi Assures Action

In a startling revelation that casts a shadow over local administrative responsiveness, a farmer from Gurdaspur, Punjab, has publicly claimed that his repeated warnings about critical weak points in the Ravi river's protective embankment were completely ignored by authorities, leading to devastating floods in his and surrounding villages.

This powerful testimony emerged just after his direct interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a 'Viksit Bharat, Viksit Punjab' programme, where the PM reportedly assured him that swift action would be taken.

Gurnam Singh, a resident of Bathan Kalan village, has been a tireless advocate for the safety of his community, which relies heavily on the integrity of the bundh to protect agricultural lands and homes from the often-furious Ravi river.

According to Singh, he, along with several other concerned villagers, had meticulously identified vulnerable sections of the bundh – particularly near his village – and brought these to the attention of senior officials, including the Deputy Commissioner, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, and the Irrigation Department, months before the onset of the monsoon season.

Singh’s pleas, however, fell on deaf ears.

Despite submitting written complaints and making personal visits to various offices, no concrete steps were taken to reinforce the identified weak spots. When the monsoon rains arrived with their usual intensity, the inevitable occurred: the bundh breached at multiple locations, unleashing a torrent of water that submerged vast tracts of agricultural land, destroyed crops, and caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure in Bathan Kalan and neighboring areas.

The frustration and sense of betrayal felt by Singh and his fellow villagers were palpable.

They had foreseen the disaster, provided actionable intelligence, yet watched helplessly as their warnings materialized into a crisis. It was against this backdrop of unheeded pleas and significant losses that Singh found himself face-to-face with Prime Minister Modi. During their brief but impactful interaction, Singh courageously recounted the ordeal, detailing the administrative apathy and the resulting devastation.

Sources close to the interaction indicated that Prime Minister Modi listened intently to Singh's account, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.

The Prime Minister's assurance that 'action would be taken' has now ignited a glimmer of hope among the affected farmers, who have long felt neglected. Singh himself expressed a cautious optimism, stating, 'I met Prime Minister Modi and apprised him of the condition of the bundh, which breached during the floods and caused huge damage.

I also informed him that we had submitted applications to the DC, SDM, and the Irrigation Department much before the monsoon. The PM assured me that action would be taken. I hope this leads to a permanent solution and accountability.'

This incident underscores a broader issue of accountability and proactive governance, particularly in regions prone to natural disasters.

As the affected communities grapple with recovery, all eyes will now be on the state and central authorities to see if the Prime Minister's promise translates into tangible measures that not only repair the damage but also prevent such preventable tragedies from recurring in the future, thereby restoring faith in the administrative machinery.