Kapurthala/Ferozepur, Sept. 13 -- Amid the receding floodwaters in Kapurthala's Sultanpur Lodhi, Ferozepur and Hoshiarpur district, residents returning to their homes face an overwhelming set of challenges-from clearing debris, rebuilding houses and demarcating land chunks to reclaiming farmland buried under layers of sand besides creating a safe environment for their livestock.

Sultanpur Lodhi's Mand area had been submerged since August 11 when the Beas breached its banks, affecting 145 villages and displacing 5,728 people. A preliminary report suggests crop loss on 43,426 acres in Kapurthala district only. In Hoshiarpur, 20,564 acres were affected as 286 villages were affected by floods.

Pargat Singh of Sangra village said 2-3 feet of...