Stuck atop Nishan Sahib for 4–5 hrs, Sewadar Balwant Singh shares what kept him calm
Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal
Sultanpur Lodhi (Punjab), October 20, 2026: For nearly four to five hours, Balwant Singh remained stranded high atop the Nishan Sahib at historic Gurdwara Khuh Sahib in Talwandi Chaudharian village of Kapurthala district. Throughout the ordeal, he said, he continued chanting the name of God, confident that Guru Maharaj would bring him down safely.
Balwant Singh, a sewadar who had climbed the Nishan Sahib to tie its loose covering, became stranded when a latch or hinge got stuck, preventing him from descending. The situation caused concern among the congregation at the gurdwara, and efforts were launched to bring him down safely.
After his rescue, Balwant Singh recounted how he relied on Naam Simran while waiting for help.
“I had complete faith that Guru Maharaj would bring me down safely,” he said, explaining that he continued chanting for the four to five hours he remained stranded.
‘I had climbed up to perform sewa’
Balwant Singh said he had climbed the Nishan Sahib to attend to its covering, which had come loose. During the task, the mechanism became stuck, leaving him unable to descend.
He said he did not allow fear to overwhelm him, as he had undertaken the task as sewa for Guru Maharaj. His faith, he said, kept him focused on prayer even as the hours passed.
Congregation joins Naam Simran
The congregation gathered below also continued chanting and praying for his safe return. While Balwant Singh remained stranded above, devotees waited anxiously for the rescue efforts to succeed.
The ordeal ended in relief when he was brought down safely after several hours of effort.
Thanks gurdwara management and rescue teams
After coming down, Balwant Singh thanked the Gurdwara Management Committee, the administration, the fire brigade and others who helped in the rescue operation.
The incident at the historic Gurdwara Khuh Sahib had caused considerable concern among devotees, with relief spreading through the congregation once he was safely brought down.
Gurdwara Khuh Sahib, situated in Talwandi Chaudharian village, is associated with Bebe Nanaki Ji, the elder sister of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
For Balwant Singh, the experience was marked by hours of uncertainty. However, as he described it, his faith and continuous Naam Simran remained his source of strength until the rescue was completed.