Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab is grappling with one of the gravest flood disasters in recent memory, which has left 23 people dead and more than a thousand villages under water. Officials said close to 16,000 stranded residents have been evacuated to safety as rescue operations continue round the clock.
Pathankot and Hoshiarpur districts have been the worst hit, reporting eight and seven casualties respectively. Loss of life has also been confirmed in Rupnagar, Barnala, and Gurdaspur. Many of the victims either drowned or were buried under debris after torrential rain and river overflow swept through homes and farmland.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has ordered an all-agency response, directing civil authorities to work in tandem with the Army, BSF, Air Force, and NDRF. He said a dedicated committee would monitor operations and speed up the delivery of relief material. The Chief Minister stressed that unprecedented water discharge from the Ravi river—recorded at more than 14 lakh cusecs—was the key factor behind the devastation.
While river levels in the Ravi and Beas have begun to drop in Majha and Doaba, authorities remain on high alert in Patiala and Sangrur as the Ghaggar swelled overnight. The Tangri and Markanda rivulets have also risen sharply, prompting precautionary measures in several low-lying areas.
In Gurdaspur, 323 villages remain marooned, while Pathankot has reported damage to 81 habitations. Though inflows at Madhopur and Ujh barrages have receded, the Ravi continues to flow dangerously above its safety limit. Amritsar has also reported fresh inundation in Ajnala despite improvement in Ramdas earlier this week.
Meanwhile, Social Security Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said her department is coordinating with health officials to protect vulnerable groups and prevent the spread of disease in relief camps.
Officials warned that although rescue efforts have evacuated thousands, fluctuating river flows mean the situation could worsen again in the coming days.
