Rain and Ruin

In the last 50 years, Punjab has witnessed several devastating floods that have left deep scars on its landscape and people

- Harjeshwar Pal Singh IS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, HISTORY, SGGS COLLEGE

PUNJAB, the land of five rivers, has always carried both the blessings and the burdens of water. Its very name comes from the Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum rivers that crisscross its plains. These rivers made Punjab one of the most fertile regions of the subcontinent, the birthplace of civilisations and the breadbasket of India and Pakistan. But alongside prosperity, they have also brought recurring floods, leaving behind a trail of devastation that stretches from ancient times to the present day.

Floods in Punjab are not new. Historical records and traveller accounts—from Al-Biruni in the 11th century to Chinese pilgrims—describe how the monsoon often transformed the plains into vast sheets of water. The Indus and its tributaries, like the Nile in Egypt, brought silt and fertility but also destruction. Entire villages could be swallowed up overnight if a river changed its course.

Medieval chronicles mention swollen rivers halting invading armies or disrupting trade routes. Seasonal flooding was both feared and accepted, seen as part of the natural rhythm of life. Communities adapted by building embankments or shifting settlements, but no large-scale flood management systems existed.

During Mughal rule, agriculture flourished, thanks to Punjab’s rivers. The emperors encouraged irrigation and sometimes ordered the construction of bunds and canals to regulate water. Yet, floods remained a recurring menace, particularly along the Sutlej and Beas, which frequently changed course.

By the 18th century, as wars and deforestation reshaped the land, rivers became more volatile. Villages frequently suffered inundations. Under the Sikh misls and later Maharaja Ranjit Singh, rulers attempted small-scale embankment projects. But without centralised planning or resources, these efforts only offered partial relief.