In July last year, several districts in Punjab were put on high alert due to continuous heavy rains. Roads were flooded, and many cars were submerged. Patiala and Dera Bassi were hit particularly hard, with fields underwater and roads collapsing, disrupting traffic. Homes were severely affected, with many residents experiencing significant financial losses due to damage to their valuables, leaving behind a trail of destruction.

Remembering the floods from the previous year, many people in Patiala have started taking precautions.
Residents of Choti Arai Majra, Gopal Colony, Chinar Bagh, and Urban Estate, who were the worst affected by last year’s floods, are not taking any risks this time. Some have moved their furniture and valuable items to rooftops covered with tarpaulin. Others have built extra brick walls to keep floodwaters out of their homes. In some cases, residents have placed their furniture and belongings on iron stands, about three feet above the ground, inside their rooms, reported Hindustan Times.

Amarjit Waraich, former director of All India Radio, spent Rs 45,000 on custom-made iron angles and placed his furniture on them to prevent damage from flood waters.

A resident named Manjit Singh Narang, who retired in 2019, claimed that they suffered losses between Rs 10-12 lakh.
“Our house got flooded last year and there was damage worth Rs 10–12 lakh. There is no help from the administration either,” India Today quoted him saying.

A couple, Aditya and Anjana, are keeping their valuables on elevated iron tables. They suffered significant losses last year too.
“We already moved some of our furniture and gas stove to the first floor,” they said.
When the local authorities fail to step up, sour experiences will drive people to be better prepared and more vigilant.