New Delhi: The death toll from the devastating floods in Punjab rose to 48 on Sunday, with crops on over 1.76 lakh hectares damaged, officials confirmed. The state, facing its worst deluge in more than three decades, continues to grapple with widespread destruction as relief and rescue operations by the NDRF, Army, BSF, Punjab Police and district authorities proceed on a war footing.
Education Minister Harjot Bains announced that all schools, colleges, and universities across Punjab will reopen from September 8, after being shut due to the floods. While private schools may resume from September 8, government schools will reopen from September 9. Bains clarified that if any educational institution remains affected by floods, its closure will be decided by the respective deputy commissioner.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who was hospitalised on Friday after complaining of exhaustion and a low heart rate, has been closely monitoring the relief operations. During a high-level meeting with Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha and DGP Gaurav Yadav, Mann was informed that nearly 3.87 lakh people have been directly displaced and over 20 lakh residents across 2,050 villages in 23 flood-hit districts have been affected. So far, 22,938 people have been evacuated from the worst-affected areas, and 219 relief camps have been set up, housing more than 5,400 people. Three people remain missing in Pathankot district.
Officials reported that water levels in major dams have begun to recede. The Pong Dam on the Beas River dropped nearly two feet to 1,392.20 feet, though it remains slightly above its capacity. Inflow fell to 36,968 cusecs, while 90,000 cusecs were released into the Shah Nehar barrage. Similarly, the Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej River saw a slight dip, with its level recorded at 1,677.98 feet and an outflow of 70,000 cusecs.
Meanwhile, BJP state unit chief Sunil Jakhar announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Punjab on September 9 to assess the situation. AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, have called on the Centre to release immediate relief, with Sisodia stating that farmers will be allowed to extract deposited sand from their fields a major concern ahead of the next sowing season.
Punjab is experiencing one of its most severe flood disasters in decades, triggered by heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir that caused the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers along with seasonal rivulets to overflow. Continuous rains in the state have worsened the crisis, compounding the challenges faced by residents and authorities.
