Punjab floods: How IIT Ropar staff, students braved the water after their campus went under

Hit by one of the worst floods in the district in the last three decades, IIT-Ropar in Rupnagar, Punjab faced a true test of its grit. IIT-Ropar, which is situated near the banks of the Sutlej was the worst hit by the floods. Although the waters of Sutlej did not reach the campus, it was flooded by the rivulets Bhudki and Sangraon, which flow on the south-western side of the IIT campus.

Punjab, as a state, has been hit by the worst floods they have seen in the last 40 years. The heavy torrential rain in the neighbouring hills of Himachal Pradesh last week led to a deluge in the Rupnagar district.

The water was also believed to have entered the electrical substation inside the campus as a result of which the power supply to all the buildings in the campus was immediately cut. It was around midnight on Monday that IIT director Prof SK Das in consultation with Deputy Commissioner Sumeet Jarangal made arrangements to break the compound wall towards the eastern side of the campus to drain the floodwater.

Prof Das said in a statement, "It was a severe situation but the administration along with the students, faculty members and staff responded to it very positively to combat the challenges. We provided the necessary supplies to the residents during the crisis hours under very trying circumstances. We took decisions for the evacuations of students and staff at the appropriate time and provided all sorts of assistance not only to evacuate but to transfer them to safer places or make connections for their onward journey."

The situation is now under control, according to several reports. Continuous efforts are being made to restore power supply and water to the campus as soon as possible. There were no casualties or injuries during the rescue, a few types of equipment placed on the ground floor was damaged due to the water.

The classes were suspended till August 25 and is expected to be resumed by August 28 but only after the administration makes an official announcement regarding the same. The campus also helped accommodate about 250 local residents displaced by the floods on its upper floors. Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh also visited the flood-hit IIT Ropar and helped in the efforts while evacuating the students to the Kisan Bhawan in Chandigarh.

Prof Das added that the operation was completed successfully. "We have now taken up the challenge of restoring services and to bring back the campus to operation. IIT Ropar particularly thanks the District Administration of Rupnagar and the people of Ropar who helped us tremendously in this hour of crisis," he said.