Punjab is passing through a bad phase due to severe floods, as over 1900 villages across the state have been affected, standing crops at over 4 lakh acres of farmland have been inundated, and the death toll has increased to 43 in the state.
However, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, who was on a visit to Punjab to take stock of the situation, has assured that the border state will be taken out of this trouble by the Centre. He said funds are already with the state under the State Disaster Relief Fund. Two central teams are assessing the total loss, and everything will be taken care of.
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party Parliamentarians have announced to use their MPLADS Funds for the flood relief works. With India’s agrarian heartland passing through unprecedented times, the brave people of Punjab are leaving nothing to chance to battle out this disaster.
As overflowing rivers due to earlier rain and forced release of waters from dams are giving jitters to both people and the state administration, the general public, along with the teams of the Indian Army, BSF, NDRF, and state police, is making all-out efforts to evacuate the stranded and strengthen the bundhs on the banks of the rivers. About 21,000 people have been taken to safer places as of now.
Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Gurmeet Singh Khudian, has urged the Union Agriculture Minister, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, for an immediate relief and financial package to address the devastating impact of floods. Appeals are being made by the concerned district administrations to all those living in low-lying flood-affected areas to reach safer places.