The flood situation in Punjab continues to be critical, with the state government’s latest daily bulletin reporting an increase in both casualties and the number of affected villages. The death toll has tragically risen to 53, with one more fatality added to the grim count. The bulletin also reveals that an additional 84 villages have been impacted, bringing the total number of affected villages to 2,185 across all 23 districts of the state.
The scale of the agricultural devastation is particularly alarming, with official figures indicating that crops spread over 4.8 lakh acres have been damaged. This extensive destruction of farmland poses a severe economic threat to the state, which is a major agricultural hub for the country. The human impact is equally staggering, with 3,88,466 people having been directly affected by the calamity.
Despite the dire circumstances, rescue and relief operations are in full swing. The state government’s bulletin highlights that 23,297 people have been successfully rescued from submerged villages. The most significant rescue efforts were carried out in Gurdaspur (5,581 people), Fazilka (4,323 people), and Ferozepur (4,034 people). To provide shelter, a total of 219 relief camps were established. As of now, 115 of these camps remain active, providing temporary shelter to 4,533 people who are unable to return to their homes.
The rescue and relief operations are a coordinated effort involving multiple agencies. Fourteen teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed to carry out rescue missions in the affected districts. In addition, 18 columns of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy have been brought in to support the state administration. The Indian Air Force and Army have deployed over 30 helicopters for aerial rescue and relief operations, while the Border Security Force (BSF) is also assisting on the ground. The state government has provided 182 boats to facilitate rescue operations in the inundated areas. This multi-agency response reflects the gravity of the situation and the concerted efforts to mitigate the suffering of the affected population.
