North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal has expressed deep sorrow and anger over the devastating floods that have rocked Punjab through a press statement Chahal said that with over 1.75 lakh acres of fertile agricultural land submerged, countless houses destroyed and families rendered homeless, NAPA holds the Bhakra Beas Management Board and the central government responsible for their negligence and failure to take timely action.
He said that “This is not just a natural disaster – it is a human tragedy that has been made worse by man-made mismanagement. “Had the Bhakra Dam manager released water in a controlled manner in June, much of this suffering could have been avoided. Instead, they waited until the dam was dangerously full and then suddenly released large quantities of water in July and August. Villages were submerged, crops were destroyed, and families were left destitute overnight. This is nothing short of a betrayal of Punjab and its people.”
NAPA strongly rejected the Bhakra Dam management’s claim that the dams prevented a major disaster. “If the Bhakra Dam management already knew that the water flow was historically high, why was there no advance release? Why were the Punjab not given warnings in advance? Why were our farmers and villagers left in the dark until the disaster struck?” Chahal asked.
The association reminded the world that this is not the first time that Punjab has suffered due to the Bhakra Dam operator’s poor water management. Similar allegations were made during the floods of 1988, 2019 and 2023. Each time, the people of Punjab paid the highest price — with their homes, their farms and their livelihoods — while the Bhakra Dam operator and the central government escaped accountability.
NAPA expressed its deep solidarity with the farmers and families of Punjab who have lost everything. “Behind every acre of submerged fields, there is a family that has lost its bread and butter. Behind every flooded village, children, the elderly and women are struggling to survive. These are not just statistics — these are human lives lost because those in power have failed to act responsibly
The association demanded immediate reforms in the functioning of the BBMB, including real-time data sharing, early warning systems and a decisive role for Punjab in water release decisions. It urged the Indian government to accept responsibility, fairly compensate the victims and take immediate corrective measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
“NAPA will continue to raise its voice internationally until justice is served to the flood-affected families of Punjab. The people of Punjab deserve compassion, accountability and respect – not neglect.