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The deluge has been termed by officials as the worst the state has faced in decades, surpassing the scale of the 1988 floods
Partially submerged houses at a flood-ravaged area, in Gurdaspur, Punjab. (File pic: PTI)
The catastrophic floods ravaging Punjab have resulted in a rising human and economic toll, with officials confirming a death count of 46 across 14 districts as of Saturday. The deluge, caused by swollen rivers like the Sutlej and incessant monsoon rains, has been termed by officials as the worst the state has faced in decades, surpassing the scale of the 1988 floods. The human impact has been immense, with over 3.87 lakh people affected and nearly 2,000 villages submerged.
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The economic devastation is particularly acute for the state’s agrarian community. The floodwaters have submerged and severely damaged crops on over 1.75 lakh hectares of land across 18 districts, with Gurdaspur, Fazilka, and Ferozepur among the worst hit. Farmers, who were just weeks away from a bumper harvest of paddy and other crops, have seen their livelihoods wiped out overnight.
In response to the crisis, the state government has declared Punjab a disaster-affected area and is working on a war footing to provide relief. More than 22,000 people have been rescued from flood-hit villages by joint teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Indian Army, and the Border Security Force (BSF). Over 200 relief camps have been established to shelter the displaced, housing thousands of individuals who have lost their homes.
While the government has initiated an urgent relief package, the full extent of the damage is still being assessed. The state’s finance minister has criticised the central government for a lack of support, stating that a comprehensive financial assistance package is urgently needed to help Punjab recover. The challenge of rehabilitating thousands of displaced families and compensating farmers for their losses remains a monumental task in the weeks and months ahead.
On Friday, union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan alleged that illegal mining had weakened embankments and contributed to the disaster, while assuring that the Centre would help the state recover from the crisis.
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
September 07, 2025, 06:14 IST
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