National/Punjab Desk
2 September
Sandeep Dhand Journalist
In the past few days, continuous heavy rains in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab have caused massive floods in many regions. Rivers like Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej are flowing above danger levels, and the Ghaggar River has also swollen, adding to the crisis. So far, 12 districts of Punjab have been severely affected. These include Amritsar, Barnala, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Mansa, Moga, Pathankot, and Mohali. Reports suggest that more than 1,200 Plus villages have come under floodwater, leaving thousands of people homeless.
The flood disaster has claimed 29 lives in Punjab. District-wise data shows that six deaths occurred in Pathankot, three each in Amritsar, Barnala, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Mansa, and Ropar, while Bathinda, Gurdaspur, Patiala, Mohali, and Sangrur reported one death each. Along with human loss, a large number of cattle have also perished.
Relief operations are ongoing, and the state government has set up 129 relief camps to provide temporary shelter. Around 7,000 Plus people are currently staying in these camps, while rescue teams have safely evacuated 15,500 people so far. The situation remains tense, and authorities are keeping a close watch on water levels to prevent further damage.