Punjab Minister Reports No New Loss of Human Life Due to Floods in Last 24 Hours

Punjab Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian announced that there have been no new fatalities from floods in the past day. While rainfall has decreased, significant damage to farmland and ongoing relief efforts continue.

Punjab Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian reported no new fatalities in the flood-stricken state over the past day. The state has seen a break from continuous rain, with precipitation decreasing in both the upper hilly regions and the plains. According to district reports, the affected population has not increased, though some farmland remains underwater. The minister confirmed that no additional human lives were lost.

Since August 1, floods have claimed 43 lives across 14 districts. Mundian noted that 21,929 individuals have been evacuated from flooded areas, with 196 relief camps established. These camps currently shelter 7,108 people. Fazilka has the highest number of evacuees at 2,548, followed by Hoshiarpur with 1,041, Ferozepur with 776, and Pathankot with 693.

Central Teams Assess Flood Damage

Central teams are visiting Punjab to evaluate the flood damage. These teams include senior officials from various departments like agriculture and rural development. They will report their findings to the Union government. On Friday, a team visited Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district, interacting with affected families and inspecting a government school in Baupur.

Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal briefed the central team on the district's flood damage. The team later met with officials from departments such as revenue and agriculture to gather more information. Another central team visited Ferozepur district to assess crop loss and infrastructure damage.

Efforts to Protect Cultural Heritage

State Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains took action to protect the ancient Lakshmi Narayan temple in Nangal after it was partially damaged by Sutlej river currents. Bains worked with volunteers and officials to reinforce the temple's premises. He mentioned plans to allocate Rs 1.27 crore for permanent reinforcement through Nangal's Nagar Council.

Bains stated, "We are committed to protecting our cultural and religious heritage from the disaster and supporting those affected by the deluge. With collective efforts, we will overcome this challenge and restore normalcy." He is overseeing relief efforts in Sri Anandpur Sahib constituency's flood-hit areas.

Support for Elderly Flood Victims

The Aam Aadmi Party government is prioritising elderly welfare amid Punjab's floods. The Department of Social Security has identified 479 elderly individuals needing assistance. Social Security Minister Baljit Kaur said old-age homes can accommodate around 700 seniors, offering shelter to those in need.

Relief operations continue in flood-affected areas to ensure residents face minimal issues. The floods have impacted 1,948 villages across 22 districts, affecting over 3,84,322 people. Approximately 1.72 lakh hectares of farmland have been damaged across 18 districts.

With inputs from PTI