LAHORE: Indian authorities closed the Kartarpur Corridor for the fourth day on Sunday, citing alleged floods as the reason. It led to disappointment for hundreds of Indian pilgrims who couldn’t visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.
Kartarpur Corridor Management officials stated that there were no signs of flooding near the border crossing or the shrine. They urged Indian authorities to promptly reopen the corridor.
Indian authorities initiated the closure on Thursday citing monsoon rains, which prevented pilgrims from entering Pakistan.
Kartarpur Corridor Project Management Unit Deputy Secretary Rana Tariq asserted that there was no flood or flood-like situation on Pakistan’s side of the border crossing.
On July 19, Bhai Gobind Singh, the head granthi of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, mentioned a flood in the Ravi River. It caused some water to reach near the Kartarpur zero line. However, he clarified that the water level has considerably reduced since then. It means that the way to the corridor is now clear.
Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal had ordered the closure of the one-day pilgrimage to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur, for three days to ensure the safety of Indian pilgrims.
The Kartarpur Corridor was opened in November 2019, connecting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur. It is the last resting place of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, with Dera Baba Nanak Sahib in Indian Punjab. As per the agreement, 5,000 Indian pilgrims can visit Darbar Sahib daily through the corridor.
Pakistan is home to approximately 150 Sikh holy sites, including Gurdwara Janam Asthan (Nankana Sahib), Dera Sahab and Samadhi in Lahore, and Gurdwara Punja Sahab in Hasan Abdal. These sites attract millions of Sikh followers from around the world.
