Gurdaspur – Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Wednesday visited flood-affected areas of Gurdaspur district, including Dera Baba Nanak, Kalanaur, and Behrampur, to assess the ongoing rescue and relief operations.
Reviewing the situation near the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, Deputy Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh informed him that breaches in the Ravi river embankment had submerged 324 villages in Makora Pattan, Gahalri, Dorangla, Kalanaur, and Dera Baba Nanak. More than 5,500 residents were evacuated with the help of the police, NDRF, BSF, and Indian Army using helicopters and boats.
Governor Kataria praised the collective efforts of the administration, security forces, social service groups, and residents. He stressed that the real challenge would begin once floodwaters recede, shifting focus to rehabilitation, damage assessment, and timely compensation. He urged urgent deployment of medical teams to prevent waterborne diseases and snakebite cases.
At a relief camp in Government Middle School Narhanwali, the Governor met displaced families and instructed officials to ensure proper facilities, medicines, and livestock safety. Locals demanded permanent solutions to recurring damage from Shakki Nallah and called for a bridge over the Ravi River at Makora Pattan. Kataria assured them their concerns would be addressed.
He also informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally spoken to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and promised all possible Central support. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also been briefed, while Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will visit the affected areas tomorrow.
MLA Gurdeep Singh Randhawa submitted a memorandum seeking Central aid for losses suffered by the flood-hit people. Senior officers from the Army, BSF, NDRF, district administration, and police accompanied the Governor during the visit.
