Chandigarh, August 30 –Massive floods triggered by swollen Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers, along with seasonal rivulets, have wreaked havoc across Punjab, affecting more than 1,000 villages and submerging over 61,000 hectares of farmland. According to official data, 11,330 people have been evacuated to safer locations with the combined efforts of the Army, NDRF, BSF and district authorities.
The worst-hit districts include Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar. Of the 1,018 villages under water, Gurdaspur alone accounts for 323, followed by Kapurthala (107), Ferozepur (101), Hoshiarpur (85) and Pathankot (81).
State Chief Secretary KAP Sinha on Saturday visited the Pong Dam on the Beas and flood-affected areas in Hoshiarpur’s Mukerian subdivision to review ongoing relief and rescue work. He directed officials to regulate water discharge strictly on technical parameters while maintaining round-the-clock monitoring to minimise damage downstream.
Officials said Punjab has suffered extensive financial losses, with standing crops and livestock hit across districts. Reports indicate that Fazilka (16,632 hectares), Kapurthala (11,620 hectares), Ferozepur (10,806 hectares), Tarn Taran (9,928 hectares), Pathankot (7,000 hectares) and Hoshiarpur (5,287 hectares) have been severely affected.
The evacuation drive has intensified, with 4,711 people shifted in the last 24 hours alone. Relief camps set up by the administration are currently housing 4,729 people. Out of 87 camps, 77 are fully functional—Ferozepur has the highest occupancy with 3,450 persons across eight camps, while Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Barnala, Fazilka and other districts are also sheltering affected families.
Sinha, accompanied by Principal Secretary (Water Resources) Krishan Kumar, DC Aashika Jain and SSP Sandeep Kumar Malik, also visited the Dhussi bandh—an embankment between Haled and Motla villages in Mukerian—where strengthening measures are underway. He assured residents that the state government was committed to providing all possible assistance.
The ongoing operations involve seven NDRF teams in Gurdaspur, one each in Fazilka and Ferozepur, and two in Pathankot. The SDRF has deployed two teams in Kapurthala, while the Army, BSF and Indian Air Force are actively engaged in Kapurthala, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur and Pathankot. Punjab Police and local communities are also providing critical support on the ground.
DC Aashika Jain said food, medical aid and other essential services were being supplied with help from Red Cross, NGOs and volunteers. “Teams from revenue, health, animal husbandry and water resources departments are working round-the-clock to ensure no family faces shortage of food, medicines or shelter,” she added.
