Written by Anju Agnihotri ChabaSultanpur Lodhi | September 23, 2025 03:40 AM IST 3 min readOn the first day, more than 25 tractors were pressed into service (Express Photo)More than 25 tractors lined up, an overwhelming number of youth volunteers from across Punjab standing, along with local villagers and farmers, and a Rajya Sabha member — all banded together in this flood-ravaged Baoupur Mand area of Sultanpur Lodhi on a mission to make waterlogged and sand-covered farmlands cultivable again by removing thick layers of silt and sand deposited by recent floods.Formally launching the campaign on Monday, Rajya Sabha member and environmental activist Balbir Singh Seechewal hopped onto a tractor and took command of their efforts to help farmers grow the next crop on time.In Mand, an island created by the Beas River in Sultanpur Lodhi, around 46 villages were submerged. In 16 villages, the population was also affected.On the first day, more than 25 tractors were pressed into service. However, more are expected in the coming days. Ten tractors arrived from Ramgarh village near Nabha in Patiala district, four from Rahimpur in Jalandhar, and four others were brought by volunteer Jasvir Singh.The rest of the tractors came from neighbouring villages around Baoupur.However, what makes this campaign unique is the overwhelming participation of youth volunteers.The campaign is designed not only to restore fields but also to strengthen flood protection (Express Photo)“The people of Punjab have always stood together in testing times. Today, once again, that spirit of solidarity is visible in Baoupur,” Seechewal said.Story continues below this adSmall and medium farmers with just 2 to 5 acres are among the worst-hit as breaches at eight different points into the temporary embankment around Baoupur Mand last month inundated thousands of acres across 17 villages, destroying their entire standing crops.For many families, these crops were their only source of livelihood. “We had no hope left after the fields turned into dunes. But after seeing tractors and youths clearing farmlands today, it feels farming will be possible again,” Gurmeet Singh, a small farmer, said.The campaign is designed not only to restore fields but also to strengthen flood protection, with sand being removed from the fields being used to reinforce embankments, preventing similar devastation in the future.Community members, alongside local farmers, are ensuring that no effort goes to waste. With people’s participation, the first breach in the embankment was plugged on September 20, while work on the remaining seven breaches is expected to start soon.Story continues below this ad“The initiative reflects a long-standing tradition of community support in Punjab. Whenever disasters have struck, whether floods, droughts or social challenges, Punjabis always come together. This campaign is another example of how people power can restore hope,” Seechewal said.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Punjab Floods