Parminder Singh Bhamba

  “When rivers rise, we call it nature’s fury. But when governments sleep, dams burst, and warnings are ignored—we must call it what it truly is: a man-made disaster.   The 2025 floods in Punjab have been widely reported as the worst deluge in decades, with scenes of devastation beamed across the nation. Beneath the headlines of “nature’s fury” lies a more unsettling truth: this calamity was not an act of God or a mere climatic anomaly. It was the direct result of human errors, systemic neglect, administrative complacency, and political dysfunction. Dams and barrages were pushed beyond their limits, safety protocols were overlooked, maintenance schedules were deferred, and entire communities were left exposed by decisions made behind closed doors.   While heavy monsoon rains set the stage, the real damage was amplified by the sudden and uncoordinated release of massive volumes of water from key reservoirs.  The Bhakra Dam —regulated to a maximum of 1,680 fe...