CHANDIGARH, Aug. 18 — Nearly 14,200 acres of land across Kapurthala, Ferozepur and Fazilka districts have been inundated by floodwaters, prompting the Punjab government to announce relief measures and emergency response deployments.
Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Sunday said that directions have been issued to set up relief camps for displaced villagers. “Both the state government and district administration are fully committed to providing all possible assistance to the affected population,” he said.
Officials noted that residential areas in Kapurthala have been hit, while the submerged land in Ferozepur and Fazilka is primarily agricultural. The flooding, Goyal explained, was caused by persistent rainfall in the mountainous regions of neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, which increased inflows into major dams.
“Water level in dams is under control as far as Bhakra and Ranjit Sagar dams are concerned. However, the water level has been rising in the Pong dam, and it has reached 1,378 feet,” the minister said, adding that water is being released in a controlled manner.
Goyal said he had held detailed discussions with deputy commissioners of the affected districts and instructed them to implement swift mitigation measures. “Deputy commissioners must immediately set up relief camps to provide shelter, food, and medical facilities to the displaced population. The embankments built by the department are safe, and no water has overflowed from them. Strict vigilance is being maintained 24×7 by roster-based teams,” he added.
The minister also directed the deputy commissioners of Tarn Taran and Ferozepur to keep round-the-clock watch on Harike headworks due to the increased inflow of water from the Sutlej and Beas rivers.
In parallel, Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh announced that the government had mobilised 438 rapid response teams, 323 mobile medical units, and 172 ambulances to ensure timely medical care in the flood-affected areas. “People are urged to use the government’s toll-free helpline 104 to report health issues and seek assistance,” he said.
Authorities said the relief operations will remain on high alert until water levels stabilise across the state’s river systems.
