Punjab Faces Severe Flooding Across Districts
Tanda (Hoshiarpur), September 1: Punjab is witnessing unprecedented floods, affecting more than 1,000 villages and lakh of people. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann visited flood-affected areas in Hoshiarpur, interacting with residents at a shelter home in Government Senior Secondary School, Miani.
The Chief Minister assured the public that the state government is fully committed to rescue and relief operations. “We are with the people in this hour of crisis. Every effort will be made to bail them out,” he said.
Rescue and Relief Operations in Full Swing
Bhagwant Singh Mann highlighted that the government has evacuated residents in marooned areas and is providing immediate relief. All departments across districts are working in unison to ensure maximum assistance.
He visited Rara Bridge to assess ground-level conditions and confirmed that heavy monsoon rains and dam water releases have flooded over 10 districts. Currently, about three lakh acres of farmland, primarily paddy fields, are submerged, causing significant crop losses weeks before harvest.
Medical and Sanitation Measures
The Chief Minister outlined a multi-department strategy for health and sanitation:
- Mobile Medical Units deployed to villages for doorstep health services
- Water sampling, chlorination, and preventive measures against water-borne diseases
- Fever surveys, malaria and dengue tests, and distribution of mosquito nets and sanitary kits
- Sanitization drives, bleaching powder in drains, and fogging to prevent disease spread
Bhagwant Singh Mann emphasized that community engagement is essential for controlling malaria, dengue, diarrhoea, typhoid, and skin infections.
Support for Livelihoods and Food Security
The CM confirmed that dry ration kits, sugar, rice, wheat flour, ghee, and milk powder are being provided in marooned villages. Veterinary teams are treating and vaccinating livestock, deworming animals, and supplying fodder.
Pumping operations are ongoing to clear waterlogged villages. Medical camps are active, and anti-larva teams are working to prevent mosquito breeding. MGNREGA workers and sanitary staff are deployed for professional village cleaning and sanitization.
Financial Assistance and Compensation
Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated that the state government will compensate every penny lost due to floods. He has already written to the Prime Minister, urging the release of ₹60,000 crore pending funds to aid recovery.
“The fury of the floods is an unforeseen natural calamity. Yet, our government is fully capable of managing this crisis and supporting the affected families,” the CM said.
Collaborative Efforts with Officials
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Dr. Ravjot, Lok Sabha Member Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal, and other officials. They coordinated with local authorities to streamline rescue, medical, and relief operations, ensuring that even remote areas receive aid promptly.
Bhagwant Singh Mann assured citizens that all departments are working 24/7, from medical relief to veterinary support, to mitigate losses and restore normalcy in flood-affected regions.