Punjab floods: 30 dead and 1,400 villages submerged
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Punjab is facing its worst floods in decades as swollen rivers Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi, along with seasonal rivulets, have inundated large parts of the state.
Heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir has worsened the crisis.
As of September 1, over 1,400 villages have been submerged. Nearly 3.5 lakh people across at least 12 districts have been affected. Reports confirm 30 deaths so far, with Pathankot recording the highest toll. Around 20,000 residents have been evacuated from flood-hit areas.
Districts badly impacted include Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Jalandhar, and Rupnagar. The estimated agricultural damage is massive, with nearly three lakh acres of paddy and other crops submerged just before harvest.
Health Minister Balbir Singh said more than 800 medical teams have been deployed in the flood-affected areas. Colleges and universities will remain closed till September 3.
Punjab has recorded 253.7 mm of rainfall in August, 74% higher than the normal 146.2 mm. Among districts, Gurdaspur received 577.5 mm (181% above normal), Pathankot 944.2 mm (152%), Tarn Taran 208 mm (139%), Ferozepur 170.6 mm (129%), and Fazilka 146.8 mm (115%).
The state has witnessed major floods in the past. The 1988 deluge killed over 1,400 people across the north, including 535 in Punjab. Five years later, in 1993, floods claimed more than 300 lives and 6,200 cattle, hitting districts such as Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur, and Sangrur.
Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann visited affected regions on Tuesday. CM Mann urged the Centre to release Punjab’s Rs 60,000 crore “pending” funds, saying he was demanding the state’s rights and not “begging” in the wake of the disaster.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with CM Mann on Monday after returning from China. He enquired about the flood situation and assured the state of full support.
Meanwhile, the rising Yamuna water level in Delhi has breached the evacuation mark, prompting authorities to activate a response plan.