Punjab is grappling with its worst flooding in five decades as the death toll climbed to 46 and agricultural damage spread across 1.75 lakh hectares. The devastating floods have affected nearly 2,000 villages across all districts, impacting over 3.87 lakh citizens.

Flood Causes and Current Situation

The catastrophic flooding resulted from multiple factors converging simultaneously. Rivers including Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi swelled beyond capacity following heavy rainfall in their catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Recent heavy rains within Punjab itself have worsened the situation significantly. Seasonal rivulets have also contributed to the widespread water logging across the state.

Dam Water Levels Show Mixed Trends

The Pong dam’s water level dropped marginally to 1,394.19 feet on Saturday from 1,394.8 feet the previous evening. However, it remains four feet above the safe upper limit of 1,390 feet.

Water inflow into Pong dam decreased substantially from 99,673 cusecs on Friday to 47,162 cusecs. The outflow maintained steady at 99,673 cusecs.

The Bhakra dam showed slight improvement with water levels at 1,678.14 feet compared to 1,678.47 feet on Friday. Inflow stood at 62,481 cusecs while outflow measured 52,000 cusecs.

Death Distribution Across Districts

The casualties span 14 districts with Hoshiarpur and Amritsar reporting the highest numbers at seven deaths each. Pathankot follows with six fatalities, while Barnala recorded five deaths.

Ludhiana and Bathinda each reported four deaths. Mansa saw three casualties, while Gurdaspur, Rupnagar, and SAS Nagar recorded two deaths each.

Single fatalities occurred in Patiala, Sangrur, Fazilka, and Ferozepur districts. Three people remain missing in Pathankot.

Recent Casualties

A 50-year-old man from Talli Gulam village in Ferozepur district became the latest victim. He was swept away by strong currents in a swollen river as dangerous water levels persist in the area.

Villagers living along vulnerable stretches continue facing life-threatening conditions due to persistent flooding over recent days.

Agricultural and Economic Impact

State Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema described the farm sector damage as extensive across 18 districts. Agriculture forms the cornerstone of Punjab’s economy, making these losses particularly devastating.

Beyond crops, infrastructure, residential properties, and livestock have suffered significant damage. The Ghaggar river has exceeded its danger mark of 750 feet, adding to concerns.

Massive Relief Operations

Authorities have launched comprehensive rescue and relief efforts on a war footing. Multiple agencies are coordinating operations including the National Disaster Response Force, Army, Border Security Force, Punjab Police, and district administrations.

So far, 22,854 people have been evacuated from affected areas. Around 200 relief camps shelter over 7,000 displaced residents across the state.

Resource Deployment

Relief operations involve 24 NDRF teams and two State Disaster Response Force teams. The rescue efforts are supported by 144 boats for water-based evacuations.

The coordinated response demonstrates the scale of mobilization required to address this unprecedented natural disaster.

Political Tensions Over Aid

Minister Cheema criticized the BJP-led central government, emphasizing the need for collaborative response rather than “political opportunism.” He stressed accountability and support requirements from New Delhi.

Punjab minister Aman Arora attacked Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for blaming illegal mining for the floods. He accused BJP leaders of conducting “photo-ops” instead of announcing financial assistance.

Financial Disputes

The AAP government accused the BJP of discriminating against Punjab. They highlighted that Chouhan announced no flood assistance despite the state seeking payment of “pending” Rs 60,000 crore from the Center.

AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh visited flood-affected areas in Sultanpur Lodhi, Kapurthala district, interacting with residents and assuring government support.

The political exchanges underscore tensions between state and central governments during this crisis period.

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