Kapurthala, Sept 12 — In flood-battered Sultanpur Lodhi, where rising waters swept away homes and harvests, a farmer’s compassion has become a lifeline. Paramjit Singh of Baupur village has turned his house into a shelter for displaced families, offering space, safety and dignity in the middle of devastation.
At the entrance of his home, salvaged belongings tell stories of survival: table fans, atta containers, almirahs and coolers, carried in haste as families fled submerged villages. Inside the verandah, women and elders sip tea, grateful for a roof above their heads. “This is all we have for now,” one woman whispered, tears in her eyes. “But we are here, alive. Thanks to Paramjit.”
When floodwaters surged into fields and homes, Paramjit launched his own rescue. Without waiting for officials, he ferried families on small boats. “Ajj eh loha lagg rahi hai payi hoyi, par BMW toh vo zyada zaruri si eh jado paani aaya (Today these boats may look like scrap, but when the water came, they were more valuable than a BMW),” he said, underscoring how humanity outshines luxury in moments of crisis.
Among those saved was Charanjit Singh, father of three, whose house collapsed in the floods. “He came in a boat and pulled us out—me, my children and even what little we could carry,” he recalled.
Displaced families now call Paramjit’s verandah their refuge, a place of solidarity in a time of ruin. Yet the farmer dismisses the praise. “I did what any human should do,” he said simply.
