AMRITSAR: Embarrassed by a viral video that shows its side of the parade path at
Wagah border badly waterlogged — and its Rangers standing in knee-deep water — while the Indian side looks clean and well in order, Pakistan has blamed the elevation of Grand Trunk Road on the Indian side for its mess.
The fact is that India has already implemented a rainwater harvesting system and improved drainage management to prevent waterlogging.
Pakistan is battling severe floods after relentless heavy rain for the past few days. Its side of the parade area at the site of the daily ceremonial flag ceremony at the Wagah joint checkpost is wallowing in muddy knee-deep water.
Sandbags are seen piled at a few places on the Pakistani side ahead of the flag ceremony. In contrast, the Indian side is free of water, except for a small area near the international border gates.
Sources say Pakistan has raised the elevation of GT Road with Indian authorities. After the waterlogging, Pakistan hastily constructed drainage channels and elevated a portion of GT Road to facilitate water outflow.
BSF IG-Punjab Frontier Atul Fulzele said that there was incessant and heavy rainfall on Aug 8-9, and the video is likely from that period. He confirmed reports of waterlogging on the Pakistani side while emphasising that India has installed both a rainwater harvesting system and an effective drainage infrastructure.
"There has been no waterlogging at any of the three sites of the ceremonial flag-lowering ceremonies — Attari, Hussainiwala, and Sadqi," he said. However, several border outposts (BoPs) along the Punjab Frontier were inundated due to heavy rainfall, and some had to be evacuated, he said.
BoPs located in enclaves beyond River Ravi and short of the international border with Pakistan are also being evacuated due to severe flooding. BSF is carrying out rescue operations at several places across the Punjab Frontier, such as Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Gurdaspur, the IG said.
Floodwaters of Ravi and Ujh entered several villages in Gurdaspur, and BSF's Water Wing is engaged in rescue operations along with NDRF, SDRF, and other agencies. Despite the flooding in border areas, the activities of Pakistan-based smugglers have not subsided. Fulzele said that smugglers across the border believe this is an opportunity to intensify their operations, assuming BSF is preoccupied with rescue efforts and flood management. "However, our troops remain fully alert and vigilant as always. On Thursday alone, several consignments were seized, including 6kgof heroin," he said.
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