Punjab Floods: PM Modi Announces ₹1,600 Crore Aid After Aerial Survey
Gurdaspur, Punjab: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday conducted an aerial survey of the flood-ravaged districts of Punjab and announced ₹1,600 crore in financial assistance to support ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts.
The aid package comes in addition to the ₹12,000 crore already allocated under existing funds for disaster management in the state.
Relief Measures Announced
During his visit, the Prime Minister assured people that the Union Government “stands shoulder to shoulder” with the flood-affected families. Key announcements included:
- Ex-gratia support: ₹2 lakh each for families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those seriously injured.
- Support for education: Flood-affected government schools to receive funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
- Accelerated assistance: The second installment of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi will be released ahead of schedule to ease the burden on farmers and the state administration.
Scale of Devastation
Punjab is witnessing one of the worst floods in decades, triggered by torrential rainfall in upstream catchment areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Rivers like the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi, along with smaller streams, have overflowed, causing widespread destruction.
- Human impact: Over 3.87 lakh people in 15 districts have been affected. At least 51 lives have been lost so far.
- Villages submerged: More than 2,064 villages are reported to be impacted, with Gurdaspur being the worst-hit district, recording damage in 329 villages.
- Crop loss: Nearly 1.84 lakh hectares of farmland have been destroyed.
- Rescue efforts: Over 23,000 people have been evacuated by NDRF, SDRF, and local authorities.
PM’s Ground Visit
After the aerial survey, PM Modi landed in Gurdaspur, where he met flood victims, interacted with rescue teams, and chaired an official meeting to review the situation. He praised the ongoing relief operations and assured that central and state agencies would continue working together to restore normalcy.
Looking Ahead
While the announcement of ₹1,600 crore brings immediate relief, experts caution that long-term rehabilitation, restoration of farmland, and preventive flood management infrastructure will be critical in the coming months. With agriculture being Punjab’s backbone, crop compensation and farmer support are expected to play a decisive role in recovery.
