Chandigarh, September 5: Punjab is battling one of the worst floods in decades as swollen rivers and heavy rains leave widespread devastation, with 43 confirmed deaths and crops across 1.71 lakh hectares destroyed. Relief operations are underway across 23 districts, even as the Ludhiana administration issued a high alert on Thursday after an embankment came under severe strain from surging Sutlej waters.
Authorities warned that if the embankment weakens, several villages could be inundated, putting thousands at further risk. The vulnerable areas include Sasrali, Boont, Rawat, Hawas, Seera, Boothgarh, Mangli Tanda, Dheri, Khawajke, Khassi Khurd, Mangli Kadar, Mattewara, Mangat, and Meharban.
Residents in low-lying homes have been advised to move to safer locations or shift to upper floors. Relief centres have been opened at Satsang Ghars on Rahon road, Chandigarh road, and Tibba road, as well as in Kailash Nagar, Khassi Kalan, Bhukhri, and several schools and mandis in Mattewara.
“People’s cooperation is vital. Protecting lives is our top priority,” a district official said, urging citizens to follow advisories. The administration asked families to keep documents in waterproof bags, move children, the elderly, and the sick first, and remain alert while cooperating with rescue teams.
Emergency helplines have been set up at the Flood Control Room (0161-2433 100) and state emergency number 112.
According to government figures, 1,902 villages across 23 districts have been affected, impacting 3.84 lakh residents. More than 20,972 people have been evacuated from their homes, with thousands now dependent on relief camps and temporary shelters.
The official death toll has climbed to 43, with the highest fatalities reported in Hoshiarpur (7), followed by Pathankot (6). Barnala and Amritsar districts recorded five deaths each, while Ludhiana and Bathinda reported four each. Three individuals remain missing in Pathankot.
The flooding, triggered by overflowing Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers combined with torrential rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, has devastated agricultural lands just ahead of harvest. With over 1.7 lakh hectares of crops lost, Punjab’s agrarian economy faces heavy losses.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has directed gazetted officers to be stationed in every flood-hit village to ensure direct coordination of rescue and relief measures. He assured immediate assistance to families in distress and ordered a special girdawari (damage assessment survey) to evaluate losses to crops, property, and infrastructure.
“Punjab is resilient. We will provide immediate solutions to the people,” Mann said, noting that coordination between state and central agencies remains crucial to sustaining ongoing rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
