Tractors Once Called ‘Nuisance Vehicles’ Turn Lifelines in Punjab Flood Relief

Chandigarh – The very tractors once dismissed as “nuisance vehicles” in Punjab are now proving to be the most dependable lifelines amid the state’s devastating floods.

Targeted in the past for road violations and lack of permits, these rural workhorses are venturing into submerged villages to rescue stranded families and deliver food, drinking water, and medicines.

From Malwa to Majha and Doaba, tractors are navigating waist-deep waters where government vehicles and emergency services cannot reach. In many cases, even senior officials, including SDMs, DSPs, and SHOs, are using tractors to reach flood-hit areas.

This turnaround highlights both the resilience of Punjab’s farming community and the gap between policy and ground reality. Farmers and tractor owners, many of whom earlier faced penalties, are now volunteering their vehicles and risking their lives to save neighbors and strangers alike.

“In the eyes of the people, these tractors are no longer traffic violators but lifelines — and their drivers nothing short of real-life heroes,” said a villager in flood-affected Fazilka.

According to officials, more than 1,000 villages have been impacted across Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, and Amritsar districts. Emergency services are working round the clock to evacuate residents and provide medical assistance.

Helplines for Emergencies:

NDRF Control Room: 011-2343 8091

Flood Control Room, Jalandhar: 0181-2240 064

All-in-One Emergency Number (India): 112