Punjab Floods: PM Modi Assures Full Support to CM Mann, Army Conducts Large-Scale Rescue

Chandigarh, Punjab: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann immediately after returning from abroad, assuring all possible assistance to tackle the worsening flood situation in Punjab. Earlier, Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke with CM Mann and Governor Gulab Chand Kataria to review the situation.

Rivers and Dams Under Surveillance

The Bhakra, Pong, and Ranjit Sagar dams are being closely monitored by the BBMB and the Indian Army, following a sharp rise in water levels. The Sutlej river, swollen from releases at these dams, has put districts like Ludhiana, Rupnagar, Nawanshahr, and Jalandhar at risk of flooding. For the first time, water from the Chitti Bein in Jalandhar has entered rural areas. Rising levels of the Ghaggar river are also threatening Patiala and Sangrur.

The Governor of Punjab has visited Firozpur late at night and will tour other affected districts on Tuesday to assess the damage. Over 1,300 villages in Punjab are currently affected, including around 107 villages in Firozpur. Water levels in some villages have risen to 8–9 feet, while in others it remains around 6–7 feet.

Heavy Rainfall Compounds Crisis

Continuous heavy rainfall has severely disrupted daily life. Ludhiana recorded 300 mm of rainfall in a single day, the highest since 1947. Other districts have also experienced intense rain, prompting the weather department to issue a red alert for Tuesday. Schools and colleges have been closed until September 3, and landslides near Nangal have blocked access to the Nangal Dam.

Army and Rescue Operations

The Western Command of the Indian Army has conducted large-scale relief operations across Punjab, Jammu, and Himachal Pradesh, saving more than 5,000 lives. According to Major General Puneet Ahuja and Colonel Iqbal Singh Arora, the worst-hit districts include Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Firozpur, Hoshiarpur, and Amritsar.

State Government Relief Efforts

Senior IAS officers Kamal Kishore Yadav, Varun Ruzm, and Basant Garg have been deployed to oversee rescue and relief operations in flood-affected districts. Yadav stated that timely action by the teams has prevented large-scale loss of life and promised war-level rehabilitation efforts for displaced residents.