Punjab floods worsen as Ravi river breaches embankments in Gurdaspur and Amritsar. Thousands evacuated, crops on 2.30 lakh acres damaged. Relief operations underway.
Chandigarh, Aug 28: The flood situation in Punjab has turned grim as the river Ravi breached its embankments in Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts, submerging dozens of villages and a large swathe of fertile agricultural land. Heavy rains in Jammu and Kashmir have led to a surge in water flow, causing massive destruction in border districts of Punjab.
Massive flood due to breach in river Ravi
The century-old Madhopur headworks, already weakened by silt accumulation, could not withstand the rapid flow of about 4.60 lakh cusecs of water late last evening. Three sluice gates were washed away, further aggravating the crisis. Despite efforts by 90 personnel to open the stuck gates, the operation became impossible due to heavy silt accumulation. Unfortunately, three employees fell into the swollen river during the operation. Two were rescued, while one in-charge is still missing.
Massive rescue operation underway
With the alarming rise in water level, the Army, NDRF and local administration swung into action overnight. Hundreds of stranded residents were evacuated from flood-hit villages. In Gurdaspur’s Daburi, over 400 students and 40 staff of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya got trapped in the school building due to rising waters. They were rescued after a day-long operation and shifted to safer places.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who personally reviewed the situation in Gurdaspur, handed over his helicopter for rescue operations and returned by road. He constituted a ministerial committee to monitor the situation in flood-affected areas and assured full government assistance to the public. The ruling AAP party has suspended its ongoing programmes and directed workers to assist in rescue and relief operations, including distributing food and essential kits.
Amritsar and border villages badly affected
In Ajnala and Ramdas areas of Amritsar, a breach in the Dhussi dam inundated nearly 20 villages. Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sahni and local MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal personally led the evacuation operation to take people to relief camps.
Meanwhile, controlled release of water from the Pong Dam, Ranjit Sagar Dam and Bhakra Dam has led to floodwaters in the plains of Malwa, causing flooding in Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilka. A bridge collapsed at Jhamke village in Ferozepur, further worsening connectivity problems. In Fazilka, residents have been advised to immediately move to safer areas.
Agriculture losses and farmers’ demands
According to the Punjab agriculture department, standing crops on over 2.30 lakh acres of land are now submerged in floodwaters. Farmers fear huge economic losses as paddy fields and seasonal vegetables have been destroyed. Farmer organisation BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) has demanded immediate compensation and relief package for the affected farmers.
Environmental activist and Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal joined the relief operations in Sultanpur Lodhi and reached stranded families by boat and coordinated the supply.
State government’s appeal and relief measures
Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said statewide flood control rooms are functioning round the clock. Citizens have been urged to contact emergency numbers for assistance. Controlled drainage is being carefully managed but water levels of rivers remain dangerously high due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu.
The flood situation in Punjab remains grim as the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers are flowing above the danger mark. With thousands of people displaced, crops damaged and critical infrastructure collapsed, the state government and central agencies are engaged in massive rescue and relief measures. The days ahead will be crucial in determining how quickly Punjab recovers from its worst flood crisis in recent years.