Punjab is currently experiencing its most devastating floods in nearly forty years, and the disaster has created an extraordinary surge in demand for boats and life-saving equipment across the state. In districts submerged by floodwaters, thousands of boats and amphibious vehicles have been pressed into service over the past two weeks to rescue stranded residents and transport them to safer ground. These vessels are not only being deployed by the state administration but also by the army and paramilitary forces, which are using them to reach cut-off villages and deliver food, medicines, and relief supplies directly to those in desperate need. For many communities, boats have become the only means of mobility and survival in this unprecedented emergency.
This surge has transformed the livelihoods of local boat makers, who are now working around the clock to keep up with demand. Seventy-eight-year-old Mohan Singh, a veteran in the trade since 1966, admitted that he had never witnessed such frantic purchasing—not even during the catastrophic 1988 floods. His family-run business, which once sold just five or six boats a month, has sold all thirty boats in stock within a span of just ten days. With calls pouring in at a rate of nearly 150 per day, Singh and his son Charanjit Singh have been forced to hire extra workers and extend hours to meet orders. Although the business is booming, Charanjit emphasized that they continue to offer discounts, recognizing that this surge is driven by a humanitarian crisis, not commercial opportunity.
The boats, priced between ₹85,000 and ₹1.8 lakh, are being purchased by private individuals, religious institutions such as Gurudwaras, and local organizations determined to help their communities. Life jackets, costing around ₹1,000 each, are also being sold in large numbers as families and volunteers attempt to prepare themselves for the dangerous floodwaters. Gurmeet Singh, a resident from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur, recently collected a boat purchased by his local Gurudwara, explaining that the order was delivered within three days and that additional requests would follow, as his area remained cut off and in urgent need of watercraft. For many such communities, these boats have become lifelines, enabling relief distribution and emergency mobility where roads remain submerged.
The human toll of the floods continues to rise sharply. So far, 43 deaths have been confirmed, while 1,902 villages across 23 districts have been directly affected. According to Punjab minister Hardeep Singh Mundian, more than 3.84 lakh residents have suffered losses, with thousands forced to evacuate as floodwaters destroyed homes, submerged farmland, and wiped out crops worth thousands of crores. In Mohali, as in Ropar, local boat manufacturers have seen sales surge—makers who once sold a handful of boats per month now report orders of up to 15 or 16, often priced at around ₹1.2 lakh each.
Yet, the crisis is far from over. Weather forecasts warn of continued heavy rainfall until September 10, raising fears that flood levels may worsen before they improve. For many in Punjab, the devastation is beginning to echo memories of the 1988 floods, still remembered as the worst disaster in the state’s modern history, when over 600 lives were lost and nearly 34 lakh residents were affected. Today, the resilience of local communities, supported by makeshift fleets of boats and the dedication of both state and private rescue efforts, stands as the only buffer against further tragedy.
