Punjab severe floods: Heavy rains on Monday wreaked havoc in flood-affected districts of Punjab, causing rivers and streams to overflow and throwing normal life out of gear. Twelve of the 23 districts are now on red alert, and officials are working hard to control the crisis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has personally called Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and assured him of help.
According to the Meteorological Center in Chandigarh, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar are among the worst affected districts. After heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers are in spate, worsening the flood situation across Punjab.
29 people died
Punjab is facing severe floods, since August 1, 29 people have lost their lives in all the 12 affected districts. More than 2.46 lakh people have been affected, of which 1.45 lakh are in Gurdaspur. More than 15,600 people have been shifted to safer places. Heavy rains have worsened the situation. Meteorologist Pavaneet Kaur Kingra says that the continuous rain has broken the record of 55 years.
Relief camps have been set up across affected regions with food and medical aid. Rescue teams are working round the clock to evacuate stranded families. Local authorities warn that water levels could rise further if rainfall continues. Villagers describe the floods as the worst in their lifetime.
Heavy Rains Submerge Punjab Farmlands
Phagwara and Kapurthala received heavy rains overnight, inundating shops and disrupting movement due to waterlogging. In Sultanpur Lodhi, the rising water level of the Beas river has threatened embankments and damaged standing paddy crops in more than 50,000 acres. Farmers are in despair as their entire season’s investment lies under water. Roads connecting rural markets have been cut off by rising floodwaters. Small traders complain that business losses are mounting daily. Experts fear long-term food supply disruptions if damage continues. The agricultural economy of Punjab faces a severe test.
