Recent flooding along the Jammu and Punjab borders with Pakistan has caused significant damage to border infrastructure and disrupted the operations of the Border Security Force (BSF). The unprecedented rains and overflowing rivers have submerged 87 BSF border outposts and damaged approximately 110 km of the border fence. This has forced the BSF to deploy additional resources and adopt enhanced surveillance methods to maintain security along the International Border (IB).

The heavy rainfall led to the swelling of major rivers like the Sutlej, Ravi, and Tawi, causing them to overflow and inundate vast areas on both sides of the border. The Sutlej River's floodwaters have completely submerged man-made markings such as border pillars and barbed wire fencing near Ferozepur, effectively erasing the physical boundary between India and Pakistan in certain sections. The Ravi River has also caused extensive damage, washing away nearly 30 km of iron fencing along the Indo-Pak frontier.

Of the 110 km of damaged fencing, approximately 80 km lies in the Punjab sector, while the remaining 30 km is in the Jammu area. The fence has been either submerged, uprooted, or tilted due to the force of the floodwaters. Besides the damage to the fencing, around 90 BSF posts have been inundated, with approximately 65-67 posts affected in Punjab and 20 in Jammu. Several forward defence points (FDPs), which are high-ground observation posts, have also been impacted.

The BSF has initiated a "mega exercise" to restore the damaged fence and reoccupy the border outposts as soon as the water recedes. In the interim, the force is using drone surveillance, large searchlights, boat patrolling, and electronic monitoring to secure the IB. Despite the challenging conditions, BSF personnel remain on high alert, especially in areas where the fencing is completely submerged. The BSF is also using its water wing, equipped with motorboats and surveillance drones, to patrol the submerged areas.

In addition to securing the border, BSF personnel are also involved in rescue and relief operations in the flood-affected border villages. Ten BSF rescue teams equipped with speedboats have been deployed to evacuate villagers and assist them in shifting household items, livestock, and essential materials from inundated houses. In one instance, people from Shahzada village in Amritsar took shelter inside a BSF post at Kamalpur after the soldiers vacated it due to rising waters.

The floods have also created opportunities for cross-border smuggling activities. However, the BSF has been able to thwart several attempts by drug smugglers to take advantage of the situation and has seized a significant quantity of heroin in the last 10 days. In one instance, the BSF captured a person from Hazarasingh Wala who was trying to swim across to Pakistan near the Pachharian outpost.

The recent floods in Punjab are reported to be the worst since 1988, while Jammu has experienced record-breaking rains. A BSF jawan also drowned in floodwaters in Jammu a few days ago. The situation is being closely monitored, and efforts are underway to restore the damaged infrastructure and ensure the safety and security of both the border and the affected population.