Chandigarh: In the wake of Punjab’s most damaging floods in decades, the State Legislative Assembly opened a special four-day session today to take stock of the situation and chart the way forward for rehabilitation and disaster response. The session, which runs through September 29, comes as thousands remain displaced and several districts continue to recover from widespread devastation.
With 23 districts affected and over 2,500 villages submerged or damaged, the floods have impacted nearly 3.9 lakh residents. According to government data, 57 people have lost their lives, four remain missing, and over 23,000 individuals have been evacuated to safety. Despite the scale of the disaster, the Centre has not yet officially classified Punjab as disaster-hit, though the state government has done so.
The opening day began on a somber note with tributes to nine individuals who recently passed away, including military personnel, former legislators, and celebrated personalities. Among those honoured were Lt. Col. Bhanu Pratap Singh Mankotia, former minister Harmel Singh Tohra, actor and comedian Jaswinder Bhalla, and musician Charanjit Singh Ahuja, whose contributions were remembered with reverence in the House.
Unlike routine sittings, this special session will not feature a question hour, though zero hour has been allocated to allow MLAs to voice concerns and local grievances. The key focus remains a special debate on post-flood rehabilitation, where discussions are expected to revolve around infrastructure rebuilding, compensation mechanisms, and future disaster preparedness.
Legislators are also set to review twelve official reports during the session, touching on various administrative and financial aspects related to the state’s response and recovery efforts.
Political observers anticipate a heated environment over the next few days, with opposition parties likely to press the government on issues of mismanagement, delayed response, and lack of federal support. Law and order, especially in flood-affected regions, is also expected to be raised.
While the Assembly deliberates on policies and frameworks to aid flood-hit communities, attention is also on how this session will shape Punjab’s long-term disaster management strategies. With no central relief yet declared, the discussions may also lead to fresh demands for federal assistance and policy reforms at both the state and national levels.
As the session progresses, flood recovery remains at the core of legislative attention, with hopes that bipartisan collaboration will help speed up relief efforts for those still waiting for aid.
