Punjab: Punjab is reeling under the most devastating floods the state has witnessed since 1988. According to official data, at least 37 lives have been lost, and more than 3.5 lakh people across all 23 districts are struggling with the impact. As many as 1,655 villages have been inundated due to overflowing rivers, including the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi, as well as swollen seasonal rivulets fueled by relentless rain in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
Continuous rainfall within the state has made the situation worse. Official estimates reveal that over 1.48 lakh hectares of standing crops have been destroyed, dealing a severe blow to farmers who have also lost livestock. In several regions, farmland has turned into water bodies 8 to 10 feet deep, forcing residents to use boats to navigate. Many homes have been either severely damaged or completely washed away.
Districts Worst Hit
The most impacted areas include Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, and Amritsar. Although relief camps have been set up, many villagers are choosing to remain on rooftops or man-made raised platforms to stay close to their homes and livestock.
Government and Political Response
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, during his visit to flood-hit Ferozepur, announced that the government has begun a special girdawari (damage assessment survey) and assured that affected families would receive compensation.
“Whenever the country was in crisis, Punjab stood up for the nation. Today Punjab is in crisis the nation must stand with us,” Mann said.
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal is expected to visit the flood-affected regions on Thursday to review relief operations and meet those impacted. Earlier, AAP leader Manish Sisodia visited Tarn Taran, while Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha pledged ₹3.25 crore from his Local Area Development Fund for relief measures.
Relief Efforts and Public Support
Rescue operations are being led by government forces with support from NGOs and Sikh organisations. Schools, colleges, and universities across the state have been ordered shut until September 7.
Public figures have also extended their support, with actors and singers like Sonu Sood, Diljit Dosanjh, Gippy Grewal, Karan Aujla, Ammy Virk, and Ranjit Bawa contributing to ongoing relief efforts.
On the infrastructure front, water levels at the Bhakra Dam were recorded at 1,677.84 feet at 6 am, just short of its maximum capacity of 1,680 feet. The dam reported an inflow of 86,822 cusecs and an outflow of 65,042 cusecs numbers that continue to be closely monitored.
Punjab, once a lifeline for the nation during times of crisis, is now looking toward national solidarity as it battles its worst flood disaster in nearly four decades.
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