Sikh community condemns India’s release of water at Kartarpur

The Sikh community has condemned India’s release of water at Kartarpur, describing it as “water aggression.” Leader of Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar, Kulvinder Singh Cheema, said in a video message that India had desecrated the sacred site of Guru Nanak by flooding it, stressing that aggression is not limited to “bombs and bullets.”

Cheema declared Operation Sindoor a “complete failure,” alleging it proved India’s enmity towards Sikhs. He thanked the Pakistan Army for thwarting what he termed an attack on Kartarpur.

The Sikh leader said India’s actions had strengthened calls for Khalistan, adding: “The time has come to resist and work for freedom.”

Historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur was inundated after floodwaters from the River Ravi entered the shrine complex. Several feet of water have accumulated, submerging four steps of the main staircase, while the mazaar and samadh on the ground floor remain underwater. Reports suggest two to three feet of stagnant water inside the gurdwara, sparking concerns of further damage.

Officials confirmed the saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib remains safe on the first floor. Pakistan Army launched rescue operations, evacuating pilgrims and staff, while authorities said the corridor will remain closed until conditions improve. Sikh leaders in India expressed concern, urging both governments to coordinate preventive measures. The Akal Takht’s officiating jathedar also sought a damage report from the PSGPC. The floods have devastated surrounding areas as well, with villages near Kartarpur submerged and the Kartarpur–Narowal road breached, disrupting transport and isolating residents. In Wazirabad, a resident reported that the boundary wall of his ancestral home had collapsed as floodwaters spread into the settlement.

The Kartarpur Corridor in Narowal, a vital passage for Sikh pilgrims, has remained closed since May 2025 amid heightened Pakistan-India tensions. The closure began on May 8 when India suspended the corridor citing security concerns, later extending it indefinitely without giving a timeline for reopening. Pakistan also halted entry of Sikh pilgrims, sealing off the Zero Line Gate on its side.

The suspension has deeply impacted thousands of devotees who relied on the corridor to access Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, where Guru Nanak spent his final years. Since its inauguration in 2019, the corridor had symbolized rare goodwill between the two countries by offering visa-free access for Indian pilgrims.

For the Sikh community, particularly the nearly 3,000 devotees who annually visit Pakistan for Baisakhi, the indefinite closure represents both a spiritual and emotional loss, undermining the corridor’s role as a bridge of faith and cross-border cooperation.