The unprecedented and destructive flooding of rivers has caused a massive standstill in all districts of Punjab, with over 30 reported casualties. In a historic flood in the state, the government has declared all 23 districts flood-hit, after dams and reservoirs flooded. It took just two days for an entire state to be submerged under the fury of nature. The rescue teams are continuously evacuating the affected people, whose count is expected to be 354,000. Appealing to the ‘country to stand by’ the state in the fragile moments, as the worst floods since 1988 have brought the state to its knees.
People from the lower regions have been evacuated as the government sets up relief camps. As per authorities, a massive span of 148,000 hectares of agricultural land has submerged under the flood waters, damaging tonnes of crops in the ‘food basket’ of India. Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi, the three major rivers running in the state, have been reported to have flooded, with most of the reservoirs running at full capacity.
Just like at all places and at all times, the precautionary measures have not been in place. The rescue teams from different departments, who have not even finished lifting boulders from Jammu and Kullu, have been deployed with helicopters and more than 100 boats. The Chief Minister has travelled to a flood-hit area in Ferozpur and reported on the grim situation, asking for funds from the central government. The IMD has suggested that the current situation in the Northern states is due to the weather patterns, where the westerly disturbances are interacting with the monsoon currents.
The villages worst affected by the floods are Fazilka, Kapurthala, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Ferozpur, Amritsar, and Hoshiarpur. Ensuring the safety of the people, the state government has further closed all schools and colleges in the state till September 7. NGOs and Sikh organisations in the state are also providing help in the form of grains, vegetables, and shelter to the affected people. The entire country is in shock and has expressed support as the state battles with the unprecedented floods.
