Tanda (Hoshiarpur), September 1 —
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday undertook a detailed review of the flood-affected regions in Hoshiarpur district, reassuring citizens that the state government stands firmly with them in this hour of unprecedented crisis. Visiting relief shelters, bridges, and inundated villages, Mann emphasized that “every single penny of loss suffered by the people will be compensated.”
Punjab Battles One of Its Worst Floods in Recent History
Calling the current floods among the most severe in Punjab’s history, the Chief Minister acknowledged the widespread devastation across more than 1,000 villages in at least 10 districts. Lakhs of residents have been impacted by the deluge, while over three lakh acres of farmland—mainly paddy fields—remain submerged. With the harvest season weeks away, the losses to agriculture are devastating.
Beyond crops, the floods have triggered massive livestock casualties, severely affecting rural households reliant on dairy and animal husbandry. “We are fully committed to bailing out our people from this disaster,” Mann said, stressing that rescue, relief, and rehabilitation are being conducted on a war footing.
Immediate Relief Measures and Multi-Department Coordination
During his visit to a shelter home at Government Senior Secondary School in Miani, the Chief Minister interacted with displaced families and assured them of urgent support. He outlined the multi-pronged relief strategy, which includes:
- Evacuations from marooned villages and provision of dry ration kits, sugar, rice, wheat flour, ghee, and milk powder.
- Pumping operations to clear inundated settlements.
- Medical outreach through relief camps, mobile medical units, and door-to-door services.
- Vector-control drives such as spraying, chlorination, fever surveys, and distribution of mosquito nets and sanitary supplies.
He added that dedicated anti-larva teams are being deployed to detect dengue breeding sites, while awareness campaigns will engage communities on preventing diseases like malaria, typhoid, diarrhoea, and skin infections.
Focus on Clean Water, Sanitation, and Veterinary Care
The Chief Minister highlighted that potable drinking water remains a top priority. Water tankers have been pressed into service, and testing teams are sampling supplies in villages to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases. Sanitation teams, supported by MGNREGA workers, have begun large-scale cleaning drives. Fogging and bleaching powder are also being deployed to combat foul smell and contamination.
Recognizing the toll on livestock, veterinary teams are vaccinating cattle, providing deworming treatment, and ensuring feed and fodder for stranded animals. “The health of our people and their cattle is equally critical in restoring rural livelihoods,” Mann underlined.
Political Push for Central Assistance
In a significant move, CM Mann revealed that he has already written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Centre to release ₹60,000 crore currently pending with the Union government. He asserted that Punjab needs these funds urgently to manage rescue, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts.
A State Government “On the Ground”
Mann’s ground-level inspections included a visit to Rara Bridge, where he assessed the flood situation firsthand. Accompanied by Cabinet Minister Dr. Ravjot and Lok Sabha MP Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal, the CM reiterated that the state machinery is working 24×7 in coordination across departments.
“The fury of floods is an unforeseen calamity, but Punjab is fully capable of dealing with this situation. No family will be left behind, and no loss will go uncompensated,” Mann assured.
As Punjab continues to grapple with both immediate challenges and long-term recovery, the Chief Minister’s visit to Hoshiarpur sought to reinforce public trust and send a clear message of solidarity.
This is a web-generated news report.
