Chandigarh: Punjab is battling another wave of devastation as rains lashed flood-hit districts on Monday, swelling rivers and rivulets and throwing daily
life into chaos. With 12 out of 23 districts now under a red alert, authorities are scrambling to contain the crisis as Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally called Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to assure support.
Heavy Rains Worsen Flood-Hit Areas
According to the meteorological centre in Chandigarh, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar are among the worst-affected districts. The Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers are in spate following torrential rain in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, worsening flooding across Punjab.
Phagwara and Kapurthala witnessed torrential overnight downpours, with shops inundated and waterlogging crippling movement. In Sultanpur Lodhi, the rising Beas river has threatened embankments and caused damage to standing paddy over 50,000 acres.
The rains also turned fatal in Ludhiana, where three teenagers lost their lives in separate incidents. Two brothers, Tejwant Singh (19) and Manjot Singh, were electrocuted in Sangowal village after coming into contact with live wires. In another tragedy, 10-year-old Vikas Jha died when his house collapsed in New Puneet Nagar, burying him under debris.
Also Read:Punjab School Holiday Extended till September 3
PM Modi Assures Support
After returning from China on Monday, Prime Minister Modi spoke with CM Mann to discuss the worsening flood crisis. “Immediately after landing in Delhi, Prime Minister Modi called up Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to discuss the situation due to heavy rains and flooding in Punjab. He has assured him of all help and support to the state,” ANI quoted government sources as saying.
The assurance comes at a time when Punjab’s fragile flood-control infrastructure is under severe pressure, with residents in rural belts depending heavily on embankments, local volunteers and rescue forces for safety.
Meanwhile, the Ludhiana administration ordered the closure of all dyeing plants along Bahadur Ke Road, Tajpur Road, Moti Nagar and nearby industrial clusters after the backflow of the Sutlej river disrupted the Bhattian Sewage Treatment Plant. Officials warned that surcharged sewer lines could flood low-lying residential areas.
Over 2.5 Lakh People Impacted
In Ferozepur alone, swollen Sutlej waters have affected more than 28,000 residents across 112 villages. State officials estimate that the ongoing floods have claimed 29 lives, mostly in Pathankot, and disrupted the lives of over 2.56 lakh people. Relief and rescue operations by the NDRF, Army, BSF, Punjab Police and local authorities are continuing on a war footing.
Dr Akshita Gupta, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Phagwara, issued a public advisory warning residents to avoid unpaved roads, areas near drains or streams, and unnecessary travel. She also urged people to report houses in unsafe condition and to ensure rooftops remain clear of water stagnation
