MP Sant Seechewal cancels foreign visit due to floods to help flood affected farmers

Published on: 22 Aug 2025 at 03:50 PM

Published by: PreetiMahajan

P.S. Walia

Kapurthala, August 22

Rajya Sabha member and Environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal has cancelled his scheduled visit to England today to assist flood-affected people in Punjab. According to his aides Sukhjit Singh , Sant Seechewal was scheduled to attend events in England from August 22 to September 8. The UK-based Sikh community has been eagerly awaiting his visit for the past year, but he chose to give priority needs of people in flood-hit regions.

His decision to cancel the foreign tour has instilled hope among residents of nearly 35 villages in Sultanpurlodhi which are currently at high risk due to rising water levels. Since early morning, Sant Seechewal has been on-site at Ahli Kalan, where the Beas River is exerting tremendous pressure on the advance embankment. He has been working alongside local residents to strengthen the structure and prevent a breach.

Due to the continuous release of water from the Pong Dam, around 500 to 600 feet long advance Dhusi embankment is under severe strain. Local farmers and villagers are making constant efforts to contain the erosion. It is worth noting that in 2023, a breach in this very embankment caused widespread destruction, with thousands of acres of paddy crops submerged and farmers facing huge financial losses. The situation this year is again extremely critical.

Sant Seechewal has appealed to the local Sangat to come forward and reach the Ahli Kalan embankment to assist in fortifying it. The strength of this embankment has so far protected 35 villages from the devastating impact of flooding.

Ahli Kalan’s Sarpanch Shaminder Singh said that by morning, the river had already started eroding the embankment from one side, and when more than half of it had been washed away, they had nearly lost hope. However, with the arrival of Sant Seechewal and the support of the community, the breach was temporarily averted.

Balwinder Singh, a farmer from the village of Sarupwal, shared that as soon as Sant Seechewal received word about the possible breach late at night, he immediately decided to cancel his England trip and come to the embankment. His presence boosted the morale of the local people and youth, who rallied together and managed to control the pressure on the embankment—saving nearly 30,000 to 35,000 acres of crops from destruction.