Chandigarh, Aug. 31 — Nearly 15,000 residents have been evacuated from flood-ravaged areas across Punjab as rescue and relief operations continue in full swing, Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian said Sunday.
Mundian noted that 14,936 people have so far been moved to safer locations as coordinated efforts by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army and Punjab Police intensify. “The entire state machinery is working round-the-clock to protect lives and property,” he said.
The minister reported that 6,582 people are currently taking shelter in 122 operational relief camps across flood-hit districts. District officials have been directed to ensure the steady availability of food, medicines and other essentials.
Giving a district-wise account, Mundian said 1,700 people were evacuated in Amritsar, 25 in Barnala, 1,599 in Fazilka, 3,265 in Ferozepur, 5,456 in Gurdaspur, 1,052 in Hoshiarpur, 362 in Kapurthala, 163 in Mansa, 115 in Moga, 1,139 in Pathankot and 60 in Tarn Taran.
He added that relief camps are spread across 16 locations in Amritsar, one in Barnala, seven in Fazilka, eight in Ferozepur, 25 in Gurdaspur, 20 in Hoshiarpur, four in Kapurthala, one in Mansa, five in Moga, 14 in Pathankot, one in Sangrur and 20 in Patiala. “Currently, 170 people are being housed in Amritsar camps, 25 in Barnala, 652 in Fazilka, 3,987 in Ferozepur, 411 in Gurdaspur, 478 in Hoshiarpur, 110 in Kapurthala, 163 in Mansa, 115 in Moga, 411 in Pathankot and 60 in Sangrur,” the minister said.
Acknowledging the efforts of agencies, Mundian expressed gratitude to the NDRF, SDRF, Army, Punjab Police and NGOs “for standing firmly with the government in this critical time.” Currently, six NDRF teams are positioned in Gurdaspur, with one team each in Fazilka, Ferozepur, Pathankot and Amritsar. Two SDRF teams are operational in Kapurthala.
The Army, Navy and Air Force have been deployed in Kapurthala, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur and Pathankot, while Border Security Force (BSF) units are engaged in Gurdaspur and Ferozepur. Punjab Police and Fire Brigade personnel are assisting local administrations in Kapurthala and Ferozepur. According to Mundian, 15 boats are operating in Kapurthala, 12 in Ferozepur and four in Pathankot, while airlifting is being carried out wherever needed.
So far, 1,312 villages across the state have been impacted by flooding, the minister said. These include 93 in Amritsar, 26 in Barnala, 21 in Bathinda, one in Fatehgarh Sahib, 92 in Fazilka, 107 in Ferozepur, 324 in Gurdaspur, 86 in Hoshiarpur, 55 in Jalandhar, 123 in Kapurthala, 26 in Ludhiana, four in Malerkotla, 77 in Mansa, 35 in Moga, 81 in Pathankot, 14 in Patiala, two in Rupnagar, 22 in Sangrur, one in SAS Nagar, three in SBS Nagar, 74 in Sri Muktsar Sahib and 45 in Tarn Taran.
