KAPURTHALA, Sept 10 — A rail component manufacturer in Kapurthala temporarily halted operations to produce boats for people stranded during the recent floods in Punjab, and the company now plans to expand the effort by constructing prefabricated houses for displaced families.
Hanspal Traders, run by industrialist Pritpal Singh Hanspal, produced 100 boats in a week with the help of 70 labourers, all working 16-hour days. Each boat carried the inscription, “Halimiya, hamdardia te muhabbata di kishti” — translated as “a boat created with compassion and love.” Singh said the phrase captured the essence of the mission.
“I saw people devastated by the floods, crying out for help, even asking for boats. It broke my heart and I knew I had to step in,” Singh said. “Punjab has given us so much. Now, it is our turn to rise up for Punjab.”
The company suspended its regular rail parts production to focus on the flood-relief project. Singh acknowledged the sacrifice involved but noted he did not dwell on financial losses. “We work all year round. If we can give a few days to those in need and if it helps save lives, then that’s what truly matters,” he mentioned.
Much of the credit, Singh added, went to his workers, who shared his sense of duty. He expressed gratitude to his labour force, saying their commitment made the rapid turnaround possible. Foremen Jassa Singh and Malkit Singh recalled that when the purpose was explained, they felt proud to contribute to something larger than routine factory work.
“We were fortunate to be part of this mission,” one worker said. “It felt good to know that our skills could be used to save lives.”
While the first phase focused on boats, Singh is already planning the next step — prefabricated housing for those whose homes were destroyed. He said discussions with architects and design experts are underway to turn the idea into reality.
Singh noted that his decision stemmed from a deep sense of community responsibility. “This wasn’t about business,” he said. “It was about humanity. We wanted to do something immediate for people in pain, and we want to keep helping.”
