Heavy Monsoon Rains Destroy India’s Fertility in Punjab

GURDASPUR: The recent monsoon rains caused floods in the most fertile territory in India. The flood led to the destruction of crops and livestock in Punjab. 

Monsoon devastation:

This season, monsoon rains in certain areas of India and Pakistan have remained fatal. The loss is not just confined to human loss, but it also destroys the whole farmland. It is said that these farmlands were so vast that their size was equal to the size of London and New York City combined. 

The flood is considered to be the worst flood ever to occur in India. The agriculture minister of India visited the devastated sites and said that everything there is destroyed. The Indian Punjab Chief Minister declared the flood as the worst in Indian flood history.

While remembering the last flood in India, a resident said, “The last time we saw such an all-consuming flood was in 1988.” The resident’s paddy fields were completely swallowed and cracks appeared in the walls of his house due to the gushing water.

The landslides and floods are common natural calamities during the June-September monsoon season. Experts said that the severity of these calamities is high due to poorly planned development. 

Almost 400,000 people were affected due to the devastating monsoon rains and floods in Punjab, India. The Prime Minister of India also announced a relief package to console the affected people of the flood. The relief package is around 180 million dollars for Punjab, India.

Farmer’s reaction to the destruction of the crops:

The village of Toor is destroyed. The farm worker said, “The water came past midnight on August 26. It rose to at least 10 feet (three metres) in a matter of minutes.” 

He said that the village of Gurdaspur was the most affected. He said it’s been a week, and the villagers were confined without the basic needs of life. He added, “We were all on rooftops. We could do nothing as the water carried away everything from our animals and beds.”

Another farmer also told the worst situation of another village, Lassia. He said, “In addition to the land I own, I have taken some more on lease this year. All my investment has just gone down the drain.” 

He also showed his fear while saying that the crops could not be ready in time to sow wheat. He said, “All the muck has first to dry up and only then can the big machines clear up the silt. We used to earn a living by working in the big landlords’ fields, but now they are all gone.”

Punjab is the most fertile land. It is the best supplier of rice and wheat. Analysts predict that the flood devastation of the paddy will not affect the domestic supply due to the large buffer stocks. However, the export of Basmati rice is expected to suffer. 

The member of the International Food Policy Research Institute in New Delhi said, “The main effect will be on basmati rice production, prices, and exports because of lower output in Indian and Pakistan Punjab.”