Punjab has been devastated by floods that have claimed 29 lives and impacted more than 2.56 lakh people in the past month, officials confirmed on Monday. Pathankot reported the maximum fatalities, while 12 of the state’s 23 districts have been ravaged since August 1 in what authorities describe as one of the worst flood disasters in decades.
The calamity stems from the swollen Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers, along with seasonal rivulets, after heavy rains lashed Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Punjab’s own torrential downpours have worsened the crisis, submerging farmlands and villages.
Of the 29 deaths, six were reported in Pathankot. Amritsar, Barnala, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Mansa, and Rupnagar recorded three deaths each, while Bathinda, Gurdaspur, Patiala, Mohali, and Sangrur reported one each. Three people remain missing in Pathankot.
Rescue efforts have been massive, with 15,688 people evacuated to safer zones. Gurdaspur saw the highest rescues (5,549), followed by Ferozepur (3,321), Fazilka (2,049), and Amritsar (1,700). Villages have been badly hit, with 1,044 affected statewide—321 in Gurdaspur, 88 in Amritsar, 94 in Hoshiarpur, and 82 in Pathankot among the worst-hit.
In total, 2,56,107 residents have been impacted. Amritsar tops the list with 35,000 affected, followed by Ferozepur (24,015), Fazilka (21,562), and Pathankot (15,053). Meanwhile, 96,061 hectares of farmland lie submerged, threatening massive agricultural losses.
Authorities report significant livestock casualties, though final figures will emerge only after waters recede. Infrastructure damage is also expected to be substantial.
The state machinery, assisted by the NDRF, SDRF, Army, and Punjab Police, continues round-the-clock rescue and relief operations. Twenty NDRF teams are currently active in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Bathinda.
