The North News

Chandigarh, September 5

 At least 43 people have died and more than 1,900 villages across 22 districts have been hit by severe flooding in Punjab, officials said on Wednesday. Over 3.84 lakh people in 15 districts have been affected, with thousands displaced from their homes. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who visited the state on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said the Prime Minister was “extremely concerned” about the devastation. Chouhan said crops had been destroyed, villages submerged and families displaced. He added that he would submit a detailed report to Modi and assured farmers that the central government “stands firmly with the people of Punjab in this hour of crisis.”

Punjab Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian said 20,972 people have been evacuated so far, with major operations in Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, Fazilka and Amritsar. He added that 196 relief camps are operational across the state – up 29 from Tuesday – sheltering 6,755 people. Fazilka, Hoshiarpur and Ferozepur are hosting the largest numbers.

Mundian confirmed six new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the toll to 43 across 14 districts. Hoshiarpur has recorded the highest fatalities with seven, followed by Pathankot with six. Three people remain missing in Pathankot.

The floods have also caused widespread agricultural losses, damaging crops over 1.71 lakh hectares in 18 districts. Gurdaspur has reported the largest destruction, with over 40,000 hectares affected, followed by Amritsar and Kapurthala.

Overall, 3.84 lakh people have been impacted, with Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepur and Fazilka among the hardest hit districts.