Floods Submerge Punjab Convent as State Battles Worst Deluge in 25 Years

Hoshiarpur, Punjab, Sept. 2, 2025: Sisters at a Catholic convent in Khanaura, a village in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district, spent three harrowing days stranded on the first floor of their institution as floodwaters submerged the ground level during the state’s worst floods in decades. Run by the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Graces, the convent became inaccessible after torrential rains and overflowing rivers inundated the area. The sisters managed to come down only after the waters receded today. So far, the floods have claimed at least 29 lives and displaced thousands across Punjab, submerging over 1,300 villages in 10 districts.

Hoshiarpur, one of the worst-hit districts, witnessed floodwaters entering homes and institutions, forcing families and residents to take shelter on higher floors.

Speaking to Catholic Connect News, Sr. Ekta, the superior of the convent which was affected by the flooding, recounted the ordeal:

“For three days, the ground floor of our convent was completely submerged. We had to stay on the first floor for safety and managed to come down only after the water cleared today,” she said.

Although the floodwaters in Khanaura village have started to recede, challenges persist. 

"The residents of the village still lack access to drinking water because the municipal supply is disrupted," Sr. Ekta explained. "At the convent, we have a borewell. So, we can pump water for our domestic use. However, most households in the village do not have borewells, so the local church is providing drinking water to the community,” she added.

Despite being confined inside the convent for several days due to flooding, the sisters did not face food shortages, as sufficient provisions had been stocked earlier. However, many families living near the convent experienced a shortage of food and had to rely on relief from a nearby Gurdwara, which distributed cooked meals door-to-door.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Army, Border Security Force (BSF), and district authorities have so far rescued nearly 15,000 people. Drones are being deployed to deliver water, milk powder, and dry rations to remote villages still cut off by flooding in areas such as Ajnala. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has cautioned that the situation could deteriorate further if heavy rains persist in the coming days.

By Catholic Connect Reporter

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