Patiala residents' ingenious solutions to protect home from monsoon damage

As the rainy season approaches, inhabitants of Patiala's Urban Estate, one of the city's low-lying districts, are feeling anxious. The Ghaggar river and its primary drains, Badi Nadi and Chhoti Nadi, are overflowing with silt, evoking flashbacks of the terrible floods of 2023.

Who made custom furniture to protect the house from flood damage?

Amarjit Waraich, 64, a former director of All India Radio, spent more than Rs 45,000 to construct custom-made furniture | Image: India Today

Amarjit Waraich, 64, a former director of All India Radio, spent more than Rs 45,000 to construct custom-made iron angles and position his furniture on them to protect it from flood waters. He made the decision in expectation of lakhs of rupees in damage to his furniture.

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¡°We don¡¯t trust the government. AAP minister Dr Balbir Singh is from here. He visited this place and got pictures clicked but I don¡¯t think the government has done much. So, I have ordered these angles,¡± Amarjit told India Today TV.

What does he do to use the elevated furniture?

Amarjit uses chairs to climb onto his bed, which is more than two feet tall | Image: India Today

Amarjit uses chairs to climb onto his bed, which is more than two feet tall. Other residents, including Amarjit, are taking aggressive measures to defend their homes.

Manjit Singh Narang, a retired bureaucrat, has built a three-foot barrier around his home to prevent water penetration. Others in the neighbourhood are using similar approaches.

Manjit Singh Narang, who retired in 2019, said, "Our house was flooded last year, causing damage worth Rs 10-12 lakh." There is no assistance from the administration either.

When did floods occur in Patiala last?

Floods wreaked havoc in Patiala last July | Image: India Today

Floods wreaked havoc in Patiala last July, causing considerable property damage. Another couple, Aditya and Anjana, spoke about the losses they suffered last year. This year, they are independently safeguarding valuables on elevated iron tables.

"We already moved some of our furniture and gas stove to the first floor," they informed me.

The couple had home insurance but could only collect Rs 1 lakh despite the fact that their furniture and equipment had been damaged for Rs 12 lakh.

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Meanwhile, locals across the Patiala district, particularly farmers, are concerned about the probable flooding of their paddy fields due to rising Ghaggar water levels.

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