Punjab Floods Claim 29 Lives, Displace Over 256,000 People

Severe flooding in Punjab has led to the deaths of 29 people and has affected more than 256,000 residents across the state within a month. The disaster, described as one of the worst in decades, has been driven by swollen rivers, including the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi, compounded by heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.

As of now, twelve out of Punjab’s 23 districts have been significantly impacted. The district of Pathankot has been the hardest hit, with six fatalities reported. Additionally, Amritsar, Barnala, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Mansa, and Rupnagar have each recorded three deaths.

Ongoing rescue operations have successfully evacuated 15,688 individuals to safer locations. The Gurdaspur district leads these efforts, with 5,549 people rescued. Other districts contributing to the rescue numbers include Ferozepur with 3,321 rescues, Fazilka with 2,049, and Pathankot with 1,139.

Impact on Communities and Agriculture

The flooding has devastated numerous communities, submerging 321 villages in Gurdaspur, 88 in Amritsar, and 82 in Pathankot. In total, over 1,044 villages across the state have been affected. The agricultural sector has suffered extensively, with floodwaters damaging 96,061 hectares of farmland. Reports indicate that significant livestock losses are also occurring, although exact figures for agricultural and infrastructural damages will be assessed once the waters recede.

Authorities are working diligently to provide relief. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army, and Punjab Police have deployed resources to the most affected areas. Currently, twenty NDRF teams are operational in districts such as Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Bathinda to assist with rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

State officials have assured residents that comprehensive measures are being taken to safeguard lives and restore normalcy in the flood-affected regions. The situation is evolving, and continued monitoring of the floodwaters and recovery efforts will be essential in the coming days.