The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has announced a relief package for farmers who lost their crops in the recent floods. The government will provide two lakh quintal wheat seeds worth ₹74 crore free of cost to farmers who suffered crop losses in around five lakh acres of land. This initiative aims to support farmers for the upcoming Rabi crop and mitigate the devastation caused by the floods.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the state government stands with the farmers in this hour of crisis and will leave no stone unturned to bail them out. He acknowledged the significant role played by Punjab’s hardworking and resilient farmers in making the country self-sufficient in food production.
The floods have had a catastrophic impact on the state, with over 2,300 villages submerged, more than 2 million people affected, and crops destroyed across five lakh acres of land. Tragically, 56 lives were lost, and around seven lakh people were rendered homeless. The infrastructure damage is extensive, with 3,200 government schools damaged, 19 colleges reduced to rubble, 1,400 clinics and hospitals ruined, 8,500 kilometers of roads destroyed, and 2,500 bridges collapsed.
According to initial estimates, the total damage amounts to approximately ₹13,800 crore, though the actual figure may be even higher. The Chief Minister described the destruction caused by the floods as unimaginable and unprecedented, highlighting the need for immediate relief and support to affected communities.¹
