Severe flooding in the Indian state of Punjab has resulted in at least 30 fatalities and submerged over 1,400 villages, affecting more than 350,000 people. All 23 districts have been declared disaster-hit as rescue operations intensify.
The floods were triggered by torrential monsoon rains that caused the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers to swell to dangerous levels, inundating low-lying areas. Authorities report that water levels in reservoirs are nearing capacity, exacerbating the situation and putting hundreds of villages at risk.
Rescue efforts are underway with multiple agencies involved, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy. Approximately 35 helicopters and over 100 boats have been deployed to evacuate stranded residents and provide essential relief to those affected.
So far, around 20,000 people have been evacuated to safer areas, with the highest numbers in Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, and Amritsar districts. Relief camps have been set up across the state, offering shelter, food, and medical aid to displaced families, with 74 camps currently active.
The agricultural sector has suffered significant damage, with nearly 150,000 hectares of crops submerged. Punjab, known as India’s ‘food basket,’ relies heavily on agriculture, and this extensive damage threatens rural livelihoods and could impact food supplies in the region.
Punjab’s Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has described these as the worst floods since 1988 and has appealed for federal assistance, requesting at least ₹50,000 per acre in aid for affected farmers. He criticized current disaster relief norms as unrealistic and insufficient for covering the rising costs faced by farmers.
In response to the crisis, all schools and colleges in Punjab have been closed until September 7. The India Meteorological Department has issued red alerts for several districts, including Kapurthala, Jalandhar, and Ludhiana, warning of continued heavy rainfall and potential further flooding.
The floods are linked to interactions between monsoon currents and westerly disturbances, which have also caused unusual weather patterns in other parts of northern India. Across the border, Pakistan’s Punjab province is experiencing similar severe flooding, affecting millions of people in recent weeks.
Political figures, including AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, are planning visits to assess the damage and coordinate relief efforts. The situation remains critical, with residents in affected areas keeping vigil on water levels throughout the night to ensure their safety as the crisis unfolds.
