Amid relentless monsoon downpours this week, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced the unprecedented closure of all schools across the state from August 27 to August 30—a drastic measure reflecting the seriousness of the ongoing flood threat. The India Meteorological Department warned that the spell of heavy rain will continue, justifying Mann’s advisory for residents to “stay safe.” As rainwater continues to lash Punjab, the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers have all reached dangerously high levels, following not only local downpours but also heavy rainfall in catchment areas across Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Surplus water release from the Pong and Bhakra dams has compounded the crisis, especially for flood-prone districts including Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, and Hoshiarpur. Fields and villages in low-lying regions of Tanda and Mukerian in Hoshiarpur have experienced severe inundation after waters from Beas and the Ujh river breached embankments and overflowed into agricultural areas. The state government has already ordered special “girdawaris” (damage assessments) to promptly survey and record losses, promising compensation for crop and property damage. Disaster management authorities are on alert, monitoring river flows and dam releases to prevent catastrophic flooding in border villages, especially those near the Ravi and Beas. The Chief Minister has also faced political fire from the opposition for attending events in Tamil Nadu despite the crisis; however, his administration insists that all possible relief mechanisms have been activated. The ongoing crisis, predicted to last several more days, has served as a sobering reminder of Punjab’s vulnerabilities to extreme weather—and the critical importance of coordinated, rapid emergency response and long-term flood resilience planning.
The situation worsened with rivers breaching embankments, inundating villages and farmland. In Makora Pattan (Gurdaspur district), seven villages became inaccessible due to waterlogging, prompting helicopter rescues for stranded residents. A tragic incident in Barnala’s Tapa Mandi claimed the life of an 11-year-old boy, who was electrocuted after touching electrified iron gate submerged in rainwater—a stark illustration of flood-induced hazards.
Against this backdrop, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) postponed its flagship “Fateh Rally” scheduled for 31 August in Moga. Party president Sukhbir Singh Badal urged his cadre to redirect efforts toward flood relief—mobilizing resources like diesel, tractors, food packets, and fodder for affected areas. Badal criticized the AAP-led state government, particularly Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of neglect during this crisis, and demanding rapid compensation and relief
Opposition leader Partap Singh Bajwa of Congress sharpened his criticism, claiming the state’s disaster management was disorganized. Highlighting districts like Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Fazilka, and parts of Hoshiarpur heavily hit by river overflow, Bajwa accused the government of ignoring advance warnings, failing to pre-position relief resources, and abandoning citizens during rescue operations. He demanded accountability and said: “People feel betrayed”
