Hockey Stars Rupinder, Jugraj, Chandi Lead Punjab Flood Relief Efforts

Last Updated:September 05, 2025, 19:19 IST

Rupinder Pal Singh, Gurwinder Singh Chandi, and Jugraj Singh lead flood relief in Punjab, aiding Gurdaspur villages as over 350,000 people are impacted and teamwork proves vital.

Rupinder Pal Singh leading the flood relief operations in Punjab. (PTI Photo)

Former Team India hockey stars Rupinder Pal Singh, Gurwinder Singh Chandi, and Jugraj Singh are actively involved in relief and rescue operations in flood-hit Punjab.

Punjab is experiencing severe floods, affecting over 1,900 villages across 23 districts. More than 40 people have died, and over 350,000 individuals have been impacted.

Legendary drag flicker Jugraj Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, and forward Gurwinder Singh Chandi are engaged in relief efforts in Gurdaspur district.

Jugraj mentioned that the BSF, Army, police, local administration, and NDRF are working together on a war footing.

“Rescue operation was the priority, followed by providing ration, medicines, and other basic necessities. Now, medical camps are being organised to address the threat of spreading diseases, with teams of doctors and NGOs," said the ace full-back to PTI.

Jugraj played a key role in the Junior World Cup 2001 victory and the silver medal in the 2002 Busan Asian Games before a car accident in 2003 cut short his career.

“Our job is to ensure there are no fights over ration and that essentials reach the needy promptly," he added.

Jugraj noted that being a sportsperson helps in handling the current situation.

“The skill of making quick decisions on the field is useful here. Additionally, experiencing many ups and downs makes one mentally and physically strong, which is vital in such situations," he said.

Rupinder Pal, a member of the Tokyo Olympics bronze medal-winning Indian team and penalty corner specialist, described this experience as entirely different for him.

He is part of the relief team in a cluster of eight to nine villages in the Dinanagar sub-division, where over 1,500 people have been evacuated since the floods began on August 26.

“The Gurdaspur district administration acted swiftly after the floods. In my area, several villages, including Makora, Marada, Kahna, Abadi Chandigarh, and Jago Chak, are located on the banks of the Ravi river. Here, the Ravi and Ujh rivers converge, causing the floodwaters to enter. Some villages are also near the Pakistan border," said Rupinder, who scored 125 goals in 223 matches for India between 2010 and 2021.

“For the first three days, even tractors and trolleys couldn’t move. On the first day, the SDM, DSP, and I were stuck in a village surrounded by water. We stayed at a local acquaintance’s house. The village youths were very helpful. Whenever needed, they brought tractors and trolleys."

Rupinder said many people initially didn’t know he had played hockey for India, but once they found out, more local youths started joining him.

“We evacuated 1,500 people in the Dinanagar sub-division and about 6,000 people in the entire Gurdaspur district. There were no deaths, but there was livestock loss," he noted.

Rupinder shared a distressing incident where four family members were stranded on the roof of their kutcha house, with the Ravi river overflowing.

“The water was three to four feet above the height of the sugarcane, and we had to reach them with the NDRF team by boat. I was scared that day, but the NDRF team kept encouraging us. We reached those people against the water flow," he recalled.

Chandi, who has played 97 matches for India, including the 2012 London Olympics, highlighted the importance of teamwork and the heartening response from many people willing to help.

“In Kotla Mugala, an elderly man bitten by a snake was taken to a doctor. Additionally, a girl was taken from a village in Kalanaur to her wedding venue, and a pregnant woman was safely relocated and delivered the next day," he said.

When asked about the challenges of relief work, Jugraj mentioned that the real test would begin after the floods recede.

“We visit flood-affected areas early in the morning, assess the available materials for distribution, and prioritise where the need is greatest. After grading, we send the materials for distribution. There’s plenty of relief material arriving from across Punjab, but the real challenge is delivering it to the people," he said.

“The entire crop has been destroyed, and it will take one and a half to two years to make the land cultivable again for poor farmers. Additionally, resettling the homeless people poses another challenge," Jugraj said.

(With agency inputs)

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