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 sand has accumulated on his five acres while his house has developed cracks. "Preparing land for the next crop by removing sand is one of the major challenges as it requires a lot of money, machinery and manpower. Though the government has allowed us to lift sand from the villages, it would not be financially feasible for everyone to arrange the logistics for the same," he said. Gurnishan Singh, 35, said the whole family is under acute stress as his 500-sq-yard house collapsed on August 29. "We have already lost standing paddy crop on 10 acres," he said. DC Amit Kumar Panchal said people would be compensated as the administration has started special girdawari. "We have set up health camps for people and also livestock," Panchal said. In Ferozepur, villages are grappling with rotting crops, collapsed homes and the overpowering stench of dead fish amid the withdrawal of Sutlej waters. "In Alewala, our fields are buried, homes ruined and now even the air feels toxic," said Balwinder Singh, a farmer from Mallanwala. Across the region, stagnant pools of water have turned into mosquito breeding grounds. In border village Kalu Wala, homes remain filled with 1.5 ft of sludge while farmlands lie under 4ft of sand. "If the government doesn't act now, this stench will turn into a health disaster," warned Parminder Singh Pinki, former MLA Ferozepur. DC Deepshikha Sharma said, "Sixty medical camps are underway." In Fazilka, water may take 2-3 more days to recede....