Chandigarh: Punjab’s flood crisis escalated on Tuesday as continuous rainfall in catchment areas pushed the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers to critical levels. The release of excess water from the Pong, Bhakra, and Ranjit Sagar dams has further worsened the situation, leaving large stretches of farmland and villages submerged.
Authorities in Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, and Ferozepur have ordered the closure of schools for up to three days and urged residents of vulnerable villages to move to safer areas.
To strengthen rescue and relief efforts, the state government has set up a central flood control room in Jalandhar, which is coordinating with district administrations. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed to assist in evacuations and relief operations.
Relief camps have been established in multiple districts, providing shelter, food, and medical aid to affected families. Departments of health, animal husbandry, water supply and sanitation, and revenue are actively working in flood-hit regions to ensure immediate assistance.
Officials said round-the-clock monitoring of water levels is underway, and precautionary measures are being taken to minimize loss of life and property as heavy rainfall continues to pose a challenge across the state.
