Chandigarh: Floods in Punjab have claimed 37 lives and affected more than 3.5 lakh people in all 23 districts as the northern Indian state experiences its worst deluge since 1988. Massive floods have been caused by the swollen Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers and seasonal rivulets due to heavy rain in their catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
The villages worst-affected by the floods are in Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, and Amritsar districts. While the administration has set up relief camps, many villagers continue to stay on rooftops or raised platforms near their homes to remain close to their livestock and property. To ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff, the state government has decided to keep all educational institutions closed till September 7.
More than 1.48 lakh hectares of standing crops have been destroyed. Farmers have also reported the loss of livestock. Many houses have been damaged or washed away. In some areas, farmland has turned into water bodies as deep as 8 to 10 feet, forcing people to use boats to move around.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann visited flood-hit areas in Ferozepur and said the government has launched a special girdawari (loss assessment survey) and will compensate affected families.
