30 dead, 3.5 lakh people affected in all 23 districts
The North News
Chandigarh, September 3
Union Agriculture Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Wednesday said that he will visit Punjab on Thursday to meet families affected by devastating floods that have swept across the state. Chouhan confirmed he had held detailed discussions with Punjab’s Governor, Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and the state’s agriculture minister over the crisis, which officials say is the most widespread flooding in decades.
According to the Punjab government, at least 30 people have died and more than 354,000 residents have been affected across 23 districts since early August. Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian said on Tuesday that nearly 19,600 people have been evacuated from inundated areas, with major operations in Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, Amritsar and Fazilka. A total of 174 relief camps have been set up, housing more than 5,100 people. The worst-hit districts include Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur, with about 1,400 villages inundated.
Mundian said that 1.48 lakh hectares of standing crops have been damaged, with Gurdaspur, Mansa and Amritsar recording the largest losses.
Rescue efforts are being carried out by 23 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, alongside the Army, Air Force, Navy and Border Security Force (BSF). Around 35 helicopters, 114 boats and a state helicopter are also being deployed for evacuations and relief supplies.
Officials confirmed that since 1 August, 30 people have lost their lives, with Pathankot recording the highest toll at six. Three people remain missing. The full extent of damage to livestock and infrastructure will be assessed once waters recede.
