• Source:JND
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Punjab Flood Update: At least 30 people have lost their lives, and more than 3.5 lakh residents have been affected as rains and floods continue to wreak havoc in Punjab. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Rupnagar, and Nawashahr. The rest of the state, including the capital Chandigarh, is under an orange alert for heavy rainfall.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Visited Affected Regions 

Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann visited the devastated regions separately. Mann, who toured submerged villages in Ferozepur by boat, demanded enhanced relief from the Centre, citing Punjab’s pending dues of Rs 60,000 crore. He stressed that the demand was for the state’s rights, not charity.

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Worst Affected Villages In Punjab 

Over 1,400 villages are inundated, with Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, and Fazilka among the worst affected. Crops on nearly 1.5 lakh hectares of farmland, particularly paddy, have been destroyed, dealing a heavy blow to Punjab’s agrarian economy.

Punjab Flood Rescue Operation And Medical Facility 

So far, around 20,000 people have been evacuated. Relief efforts are underway with 23 NDRF teams, the Army, Air Force, Navy, BSF, 114 boats, and a state helicopter pressed into service. Nearly 16,000 people have been rescued, while 174 relief camps, 74 currently active, are sheltering thousands, with Ferozepur hosting the highest number.

Medical support includes 818 health teams across districts, along with fodder and veterinary care for livestock. However, swelling rivers and overflowing reservoirs continue to threaten fresh devastation. The Pong dam, above its danger mark, has released over 1 lakh cusecs of water into the Beas, while the Ravi river recorded flows surpassing the infamous 1988 flood levels.

Punjab Flood Reason 

Experts blame climate change and mismanagement, such as unchecked encroachment, poor river maintenance, and weak dams, for worsening the crisis. With more rain forecast in the coming days by the IMD, the state braces for further challenges. A special girdawari (crop damage survey) will be conducted once waters recede to assess the full economic toll.

Punjab Rainfall In August 

Punjab recorded 253.7 mm of rainfall in August, a 74 percent excess over the long-term normal of 146.2 mm, making it the wettest August in 25 years. Several districts witnessed more than double their usual rainfall, with Pathankot receiving 944.2 mm (152 percent above normal), Gurdaspur 577.5 mm (181 percent above normal), Hoshiarpur 360.6 mm (74 percent above normal), Amritsar 226.8 mm (40 percent above normal), Ferozepur 170.6 mm (129 percent above normal), Fazilka 146.8 mm (115 percent above normal) and Tarn Taran 208 mm (139 percent above normal). 

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Overall, northwest India, including Punjab, recorded 265 mm of rainfall in August, the highest for the region since 2001 and the 13th highest since 1901. Cumulatively, between June 1 and August 30, Punjab received 443 mm of rainfall, already surpassing the state’s seasonal monsoon average of 440 mm (June-September).