Punjab Floods: How an IAS Officer in Amritsar Led Life-Saving Relief Efforts

She explained that while the evacuation phase is over, the focus now is on rehabilitation, restoring basic services like electricity and water, and preventing disease outbreaks. Highlighting the struggles of women and children, Sakshi described efforts to ensure menstrual hygiene, provide formula milk, diapers, and create temporary washrooms. She recalled dramatic rescues of women in labor and stressed how women continue to hold families together even on flooded terraces.

Speaking on leadership, she rejected the idea of empathy being tied to gender, saying compassion is a human responsibility. She emphasized combining empathy with purpose to create practical solutions, like setting up shelters for people unwilling to leave without their animals. Sakshi also shared her personal journey, stating that true satisfaction comes from helping people before they reach the courtroom, which drew her to civil service.

Ms. Barkha concluded by praising Sakshi’s empathy-driven approach, calling it a reminder that public service is about stepping into others’ shoes—showing that even in calamity, leadership rooted in compassion can restore faith.