Kartarpur gurdwara to reopen soon after the restoration work

Gurdwara Darbar SaHib Kartarpur opens again for pilgrims when the repair work is completed, probably within three to four days, subject to the weather conditions and the Ravi River’s power, says government sources.

Cleaning and restoration are underway at the Sikh Holy site after flooding water has been withdrawn, but the process has been slowed down by power outages. Officials said that severe rainfall on Friday inhibited the effort further.

Additional Secretary Shrimps, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), Saifullah Khokhar, said Gurdwara was flooded after dams along the Ravi River, and Nullah Bae was violated. He noted that repair work on the dams will only begin when the water level falls.

Flooding water had submerged parts of Gurdwara up to 10 to 12 feet, which were later cleared using rescue teams, district administration and army staff. The most important courtyards, internal sections and Darshan Deori have since been cleaned, while special events were made to protect Guru Granth Sahib.

Read: Punjab holds your breath when rivers waves

Yesterday Field Marshal Chief of Army Staff (Coas) Asim Munir also visited the place under relief efforts.

During his interaction with the Sikh community, the COAs assured that all religious places that were damaged by the floods-inclusive Gurdwara Darbar SaHib Kartarpur-Ville be fully restored to their original condition of priority, according to a statement from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Coas also undertook an air survey of Darbar Sahib Kartarpur to assess the extent of damage.

For drainage, pumping machines and drainage channels were implemented, although manual cleaning remained necessary due to electricity disorders.

Officials said long -term measures will be implemented to prevent future flooding, including strengthening dams, upgrading drainage systems and installing improved early warning systems.

The government and military leadership have repeated their obligation to ensure maximum protection of all religious places, including Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib.

Read more: Sikh religious places in danger in Pakistan, India, when the Ravi River overflow

Punjab floods

Earlier this week on Wednesday, flooding water from the Ravi River rose into Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur and submerged his patio and stopped pilgrimage at one of the holiest places of Sikhism.

Visuals from the field showed the sanctuary’s marble step and patio completely flooded as flooding water swept into the complex overnight. About 200 to 300 pilgrims were stranded in the Kartarpur corridor, with the armed forces called to perform rescue operations.

Officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board confirmed that flooding water had seeped into the connection, reached almost three meters in some areas and forced pilgrimage to a sudden stop.

But the threat is not limited to Pakistan. Across the border of India’s Gurdaspur -District in Punjab is the historic city of Dera Baba Nanak – Home of another sacred Sikh Squeeze – reportedly uncertain conditions, with rising river levels driven by continuously heavy rain in the upper upland, especially Himachal Pradesh and Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (iIOJK).

The city has tremendous religious significance. It is located directly opposite Kartarpur and is linked to Pakistan of the landmarked visa-free cartarpur corridor. Since 2019, the corridor allows thousands of Indian pilgrims to visit the shrine of Narowal, where Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, spent his last days.