Kapurthala Firm Manufactures Boats for Punjab Flood Relief Efforts

Chandigarh/Kapurthala, Sep 4 (PTI) – With boats essential for accessing numerous flood-afflicted regions in Punjab, a Kapurthala-based company is actively contributing to relief endeavors by manufacturing and distributing boats amid the state's most severe flood since 1988. Pritpal Singh Hanspal, proprietor of Hanspal Traders, which typically manufactures railway coach components for the Rail Coach Factory, stated that he is performing "sewa" (voluntary service) by supplying boats for rescue and relief operations in the districts devastated by flooding. He mentioned, "We have so far delivered 50 boats in just one week." Hanspal continues to face numerous requests for boats, given the elevated water levels in the flood-hit areas.

In an effort to aid others in manufacturing essential boats, Hanspal has shared the designs and drawings publicly, which may assist small factories or those involved in crafting iron gate grills in the production of boats. "A small boat can accommodate between 8 to 10 people," he noted. He added that they are creating a larger vessel, referred to as 'berra,' which has a capacity of 20 tonnes, to facilitate evacuating farmers and their livestock to safer locations. Hanspal recounted that his company had previously manufactured boats during the 2023 floods in Punjab, and despite having 60% of his workforce on leave due to flooding, they have persisted in boat manufacturing.

The current floods in Punjab, driven by the swollen rivers Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi, alongside seasonal rivulets exacerbated by heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, have led to one of the worst flooding incidents in decades. Further heavy rains in Punjab continue to worsen the situation, amplifying the plight of the residents. Officials confirm that the calamity has resulted in 37 fatalities and affected over 3.55 lakh individuals, with crops over 1.75 lakh hectares devastated by the floods.

The districts of Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, and Amritsar are among the most severely impacted areas, where numerous villages have been transformed into ponds with depths of 8-10 feet due to the overflowing rivers. The presence of boats is critical for reaching these flooded villages to distribute relief supplies and rescue those affected.

Rescue and relief operations are being conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Army, Border Security Force, Punjab Police, and local authorities in the afflicted regions. Many boats have also been deployed by state officials, NDRF, the Army, several Sikh organizations, and NGOs to facilitate these operations.

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