Beating Retreat ceremony on India-Pakistan border suspended as flood fury hits Hussainiwala
Nearly six feet of water entered the National Martyrs Memorial complex and the retreat ceremony venue on Friday.
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Visitor turnout is also expected to be nil as the adjoining Pakistani side is equally flooded, according to the Ferozepur district administration. (Express Photo)The iconic Beating Retreat ceremony at Hussainiwala was suspended on Friday after floodwaters from the swollen Sutlej inundated the area. Nearly six feet of water entered the National Martyrs Memorial complex and the retreat ceremony venue, and the approach road has caved in.
The Beating Retreat ceremony, a high-energy joint military parade by the Indian and Pakistani forces of lowering the national flags, is held every evening at the venue, drawing tourists from both sides.
However, the memorials of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev that stand on a slightly higher ground were not affected by the floodwater.
Although the Border Security Force (BSF) has not officially announced the suspension of the ceremony, sources revealed that holding the event under the current conditions appears impossible. Visitor turnout is also expected to be nil as the adjoining Pakistani side is equally flooded, according to the Ferozepur district administration.
Deputy Commissioner Deepshikha Sharma visited the site on Saturday to review the situation. Officials explained that the Sutlej takes an ‘S’ shape near Hussainiwala, with water flowing from India towards Ganda Singh Wala in Pakistan and then curving back. Due to the swollen river, water from the Pakistani side has returned with high velocity, inundating the memorial complex.
Meanwhile, Hussainiwala village and nearly 65 other villages in Ferozepur district have been submerged for over three weeks. The retreat ceremony venue was flooded in the 2023 floods as well.
Authorities have also raised concerns over the Hazarewala bridge, which connects over a dozen villages to Ferozepur city. If the bridge collapses, these areas could be completely cut off. This bridge was damaged in the 2023 floods.
A similar threat looms in the Fazilka district, where the Sutlej water is overflowing on the Kawanwali bridge. Any damage to the structure could isolate several villages from the main town, sources revealed. However, the villagers have complained that repair works were not done on the bridge after the 2023 floods, and hence, chances are high that the structure could be damaged again if rain persists, said a source.
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