Are you interested in knowing about the most common disaster in Punjab and the Punjabi disasters vocabulary related to it? Then this article is perfect for you as we will enlighten you about all the tragedies that have taken place in Punjab since independence and help you learn some useful words. If you are ready for that and more, then keep reading below!
How To Say “Disaster” In Punjabi
Before we dive right into the details, let’s first get to know the translation for the word “disaster” in Punjabi. Based on our consultation with the locals and Punjabi language experts, the official term for disaster is afatam (ਆਫ਼ਤਾਂ). This refers to any event resulting in deaths or casualties, which shows a significant loss of either lives or the economy.
Disasters In Punjab
There are two primary forms of disasters: natural disasters (like floods or earthquakes) and man-made disasters (e.g., accidents, crime, and war). Indian Punjab has seen many tragedies in seventy years, which have affected the people leaving unremovable stains on its history. You will get to know some of these below.
Flood 2010
Geographically speaking, Punjab is quite prone to natural disasters, especially floods. Both urban and riverine areas are equally vulnerable to floods when the basins overflow due to an abundance of rainwater that exceeds its capacity. This vulnerability has significantly increased in the last few years. The flood of 2010 was one of the natural disasters which Punjab has seen. In July 2010, heavy and aggressive rainfall occurred, and the basin and banks breached, causing severe flooding in the province. It took the lives of 29 people and hundreds of livestock and damaged the crops occupying over 2 lakh acres washing away 265 crores in damages and funds.
Alcohol Poisoning
Do you know about the history of alcohol consumption in India, especially in Punjab? It has existed since the Vedic era. From its period, you could guess its prevalence and consumption as it has become a norm for them. With the increase in demand for anything, some unethical practices come from some sections of society.
India is the second biggest consumer of alcohol, and most of the consumers cannot afford licensed bottles, so they prefer to depend upon locally brewed liquors. In July and August 2020, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and tarn taran districts saw the catastrophe of poisoned deaths. Illegal sales and consumption of alcohol led to the deaths of more than 120 people in the said districts.
Amritsar Train Massacre
This is another example of a man-made disaster in India. In October 2018, during the celebration of the Dosehra event, when many people gathered around Amritsar railway station to witness the festival, a train ran off the track and into the spectators. It caused the death of more than 60, and the injured added to more than 100. The incident mutilated the dead bodies to the extent that they could not be recognized. The survivors went through severe and irreparable injuries. This incident left a mark on the face of railway authorities and the history of the Indian railway.
Covid 19
Covid 19 does not need any introduction as it is a well-known cataclysm leading to disastrous consequences worldwide. Indian Punjab, like the whole world, was equally affected by this disaster. It saw a sudden outburst and spread of covid cases between March 9th and 31st. The total number of patients reached almost two and a half lakh, causing the deaths of nearly 7000 people. This event led its economy to an extreme misfortune that even policies could not readily be implemented.
Jalandhar Crash
This incident is still another disaster that Punjab faced in 2002. In May, an aircraft crashed into a building in Jalandhar. The incident caused eight deaths, injuring many, including those who tried to save the victims. The pilot survived the event as he got himself out timely.
Punjabi disasters Vocabulary
| English | Punjabi | Romanization |
| Drought | ਸੋਕਾ | Sōkā |
| Dust Storm | ਧੂੜ ਤੂਫਾਨ | Dhūṛa Tūphāna |
| Earthquake | ਭੂਚਾਲ | Bhūcāla |
| Famine | ਅਕਾਲ | Akāla |
| Fatal | ਘਾਤਕ | Ghātaka |
| Fatality | ਘਾਤਕਤਾ | Ghātakatā |
| Fire | ਅੱਗ | Aga |
| Flood | ਹੜ੍ਹ | Haṛha |
| Force | ਫੋਰਸ | Phōrasa |
| Gust | ਗਸਟ | Gasaṭa |
| Hail | ਗੜੇ | Gaṛē |
| Hurricane | ਹਰੀਕੇਨ | Harīkēna |
| Landslides | ਜ਼ਮੀਨ ਖਿਸਕਣ | Zamīna Khisakaṇa |
| Lava | ਲਾਵਾ | Lāvā |
| Lightning | ਬਿਜਲੀ | Bijalī |
| Low-Pressure | ਘੱਟ-ਦਬਾਅ | Ghaṭa-Dabā’a |
| Magma | ਮੈਗਮਾ | Maigamā |
| Natural Disasters | ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਆਫ਼ਤਾਂ | Kudaratī Āfatāṁ |
| Permafrost | ਪਰਮਾਫ੍ਰੌਸਟ | Paramāphrausaṭa |
| Rainstorm | ਬਾਰਸ਼ | Bāraśa |
| Sandstorm | ਰੇਤ ਦਾ ਤੂਫ਼ਾਨ | Rēta Dā Tūfāna |
| Scientist | ਵਿਗਿਆਨੀ | Vigi’ānī |
| Seismic | ਭੂਚਾਲ | Bhūcāla |
| Shelter | ਆਸਰਾ | Āsarā |
| Snowstorm | ਬਰਫ਼ਬਾਰੀ | Barafabārī |
| Storm | ਤੂਫਾਨ | Tūphāna |
| Tension | ਤਣਾਅ | Taṇā’a |
| Thunderstorm | ਗਰਜ | Garaja |
| Tornado | ਬਵੰਡਰ | Bavaḍara |
| Tremor | ਕੰਬਣੀ | Kabaṇī |
| Tsunami | ਸੁਨਾਮੀ | Sunāmī |
| Underground | ਧਰਤੀ ਹੇਠਾਂ, ਲੁਕ ਜਾਣਾ | Dharatī Hēṭhāṁ, Luka Jāṇā |
| Violent Storm | ਹਿੰਸਕ ਤੂਫ਼ਾਨ | Hisaka Tūfāna |
| Volcano | ਜਵਾਲਾਮੁਖੀ | Javālāmukhī |
| Volt | ਵੋਲਟ | Vōlaṭa |
| Whirlpool | ਵਰਲਪੂਲ | Varalapūla |
| Whirlwind | ਵਾਵਰੋਲਾ | Vāvarōlā |
Useful Sentences
| English | Punjabi | Romanization |
| Can we report about the dust storm? | ਕੀ ਅਸੀਂ ਧੂੜ ਦੇ ਤੂਫਾਨ ਬਾਰੇ ਰਿਪੋਰਟ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਾਂ? | Kī asīṁ dhūṛa dē tūphāna bārē ripōraṭa kara sakadē hāṁ? |
| Forest fire in Australia is horrific. | ਆਸਟ੍ਰੇਲੀਆ ਦੇ ਜੰਗਲਾਂ ‘ਚ ਲੱਗੀ ਅੱਗ ਭਿਆਨਕ ਰੂਪ ਧਾਰਨ ਕਰ ਗਈ ਹੈ। | Āsaṭrēlī’ā dē jagalāṁ’ca lagī aga bhi’ānaka rūpa dhārana kara ga’ī hai. |
| That event leads to many deaths and loss of money. | ਉਸ ਘਟਨਾ ਕਾਰਨ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਮੌਤਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਪੈਸੇ ਦਾ ਨੁਕਸਾਨ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। | Usa ghaṭanā kārana bahuta sārī’āṁ mautāṁ atē paisē dā nukasāna hudā hai. |
| His parents died in an earthquake. | ਭੂਚਾਲ ਵਿਚ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਮਾਤਾ-ਪਿਤਾ ਦੀ ਮੌਤ ਹੋ ਗਈ ਸੀ। | Bhūcāla vica usa dē mātā-pitā dī mauta hō ga’ī sī. |
| How can we make the world safer? | ਅਸੀਂ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਅਤ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਬਣਾ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਾਂ? | Asīṁ sasāra nū surakhi’ata kivēṁ baṇā sakadē hāṁ? |
| Million people die in such events. | ਅਜਿਹੀਆਂ ਘਟਨਾਵਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੱਖਾਂ ਲੋਕ ਮਾਰੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ। | Ajihī’āṁ ghaṭanāvāṁ vica lakhāṁ lōka mārē jāndē hana. |
| The rescue team saved a million people. | ਬਚਾਅ ਟੀਮ ਨੇ 10 ਲੱਖ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਚਾਇਆ। | Bacā’a ṭīma nē 10 lakha lōkāṁ nū bacā’i’ā. |
| We can study science to have a safer community. | ਅਸੀਂ ਇੱਕ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਅਤ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਲਈ ਵਿਗਿਆਨ ਦਾ ਅਧਿਐਨ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਾਂ। | Asīṁ ika surakhi’ata bhā’īcārē la’ī vigi’āna dā adhi’aina kara sakadē hāṁ. |
Ling App
Are you stressed and tired of trying to learn a foreign language? No need to worry, as the Ling App is here to solve your worries. It introduces you to a whole range of lessons that are created by real native speakers and language educators. Unlike other platforms, the content is regularly updated so that you can find lessons related to your real interests. Recently, the team even added Arabic lessons related to the world cup! How cool is that?
So what are you waiting for? Download the app from Google Playstore or App Store and start learning Punjabi now!
