The flood situation has improved due to the slightly low water level in Punjab. There is no estimate of heavy rains in the coming two days. Although releasing controlled amount of water from Bhakra and Pong dams is still a matter of concern, the chairman of the Bhakra Beas Management Board has assured that there will be no threat to release excessive water. Meanwhile, in the last two days, there is no news of any loss of life and property in the state destroyed by floods, but 3.84 lakh people affected in 1948 villages of 23 districts are still trying to overcome the damage caused by floods. Apart from standing crops, many people have also lost their houses. Akashvani correspondent reports that on Thursday, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, who visited Punjab on the instructions of the Prime Minister, held illegal mining for the severe floods in Punjab. He assured that the Center would prepare a short -term, medium and long -term plan for relief and rehabilitation in the state. At the same time, he said that the state government will also have to work at the ground level seriously.
Schools closed due to floods in Punjab, colleges will reopen from Tuesday
Punjab Education Minister Harjot Bains said on Sunday that the recently closed schools, colleges and universities will open from September 9 due to floods in the state. The minister said that if a school or college is affected by floods, the decision to close it will be taken by the Deputy Commissioner concerned. The Punjab government had ordered all schools, colleges and universities to be closed by September 7, recently in view of decades of decades in the state. In a post on ‘X’ on Sunday, Bains said that all government, private and government aided schools, colleges and universities of the state will reopened.
The state government has declared all 23 districts flood affected. According to Friday data, 1,902 villages have been submerged, more than 3.8 lakh people have been affected and more than 11.7 lakh hectares of agricultural land has been destroyed. At least 43 people have been killed. The most affected northern district is Gurdaspur, where 329 villages and 1.45 lakh people have been affected and 40,000 hectares of agricultural land has been submerged.
BSF IG visited flood affected border villages in Ferozepur
A senior official of the Border Security Force (BSF) visited the flood -affected border villages and posts in Ferozepur district of Punjab on Sunday and reviewed the situation. This information was given in an official statement. A statement issued by the BSF said that Atul Phuljele, Inspector General of Punjab Frontier, visited Pritam Singh Wala, Pacharian, Palla Megha, Jakhrawan, Basti Ramlal, Kamlewala Dulchike and Kilche villages. According to the statement, he also interacted with the villagers and assured him of BSF’s quick and continuous support. While visiting the medical camps organized by the SF, Phuljele urged the local people to take full advantage of free medical and veterinary facilities through such camps, which plans to be held daily in flood affected villages in areas bordering Punjab border for the next few days. The statement said that the IG appreciated the tireless efforts of BSF jawans engaged in rescue and relief work despite adverse conditions. The statement said that the morale of BSF personnel posted on the advance front has increased considerably under his visit. Punjab is currently facing flood disaster.
The number of dead in Punjab flood is 46
The death toll in the disastrous floods in Punjab has increased to 46, while standing crops on 1.75 lakh hectares of land have been destroyed. Officials gave this information on Saturday. He informed that relief and rescue operations are being run on a war footing by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Army, Border Security Force, Punjab Police and District Administration. Punjab is facing the most severe floods in decades. This situation has arisen due to heavy rains in the catchment areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir due to heavy rains, due to the boom of Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers and seasonal drains.
Crops standing on 1.75 lakh hectares ruined
Apart from this, heavy rains in Punjab in recent times have made the situation more serious, which has increased the difficulties of the people. Officials said the water level of Pong Dam was reduced to 1,394.19 feet on Saturday, although it is still four feet above 1,390 feet. The water level of the dam was 1,394.8 feet on Friday evening. According to officials, the water flow in the dam on Friday was 99,673 cusecs, which declined to 47,162 cusecs, while the withdrawal remained unchanged at 99,673 cusecs. The water level was recorded at 1,678.14 feet on Saturday in the case of Bhakra Dam, which was 1,678.47 feet on Friday. This dam on the Sutlej river was 62,481 cusecs and withdrawals 52,000 cusecs.
Constant rains in Punjab and neighboring hilly states caused widespread destruction
State Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema described the flood as the worst in five decades. He said that continuous rains in Punjab and neighboring hilly states have caused widespread destruction, affecting about 2,000 villages in all districts. According to the latest bulletin, more than 3.87 lakh people have been affected and 46 deaths have been confirmed. Between August 1 and September 5, 43 deaths were recorded from 14 districts. 1,996 villages from a total of 23 districts have been affected by floods. The highest seven deaths occurred from Hoshiarpur and Amritsar. This was followed by six deaths in Pathankot, five in Barnala, four in Ludhiana and Bathinda, three in Mansa, two each in Gurdaspur, Rupnagar and SAS Nagar and one each from Patiala, Sangrur, Fazilka and Ferozepur. Three people are missing in Pathankot. Meanwhile, a 50 -year -old man from Talli Ghulam village in Ferozepur district was swept away in the sharp stream of the boiling river and died.
Water level in the district for a few days is at dangerous level
Officials said that for the last few days, the water level in the district is at a dangerous level and the lives of the people living in the villages have become difficult due to continuous floods. These figures related to floods are from the period from August 1 to September 6.
Officials said that 22,854 people have been evacuated from the affected areas so far. Cheema said that the backbone of the state’s economy has suffered heavy losses in 18 districts. Apart from this, infrastructure, houses and livestock have also suffered major damage. He said that the water level of Ghaggar river has also crossed the 750 -foot danger mark. He said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of the state has taken immediate action on this unprecedented flood and adopted a sensitive attitude.
The minister emphasized the need for accountability and support from the BJP -led central government and said that this crisis requires cooperative response rather than political opportunism. Cheema said that despite the devastation, the Punjab government has taken action in a fast and coordinated manner. He said that about 200 relief camps have been organized across the state, where more than 7,000 displaced people have been given shelter. 244 NDRF and two SDRF teams are conducting relief and rescue operations with the help of 144 boats.
Punjab Minister Aman Arora on Saturday targeted Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, saying that he was blaming illegal mining in rivers for floods, while BJP leaders visit flood affected areas for “photographs” instead of announcing financial assistance. The AAP accused the BJP of discriminating against Punjab and said that Chauhan did not declare “one penny” for flood assistance, while the state government has demanded a ‘Lubti’ of Rs 60,000 crore from the Center.
AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh visited the flood affected areas at Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district. At the same time, Hoshiarpur district Mantanda and Mukerian sub-divisions have suffered heavy losses, where crops like paddy, sugarcane and maize have suffered heavy damage. Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain said that a detailed survey is being conducted to assess the damage. He said that the affected families will be compensated and all the departments are working coordinated to ensure timely relief and rescue operations. He said that the situation is under control. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Kapurthala district Amit Kumar Panchal said that the flow of water in the Beas river was recorded at 1.72 lakh cusecs.