3rd September,Wednesday: Punjab struggles with the worst floods in almost 40 years; the state has been formally designated as disaster-affected. Several districts are waterlogged, resulting in the displacement of thousands of people and destruction of crops, livestock, and infrastructure because of torrential monsoon rains and water spurring from overflowing dams.
The floods have affected 3.5 lakh people across 1,200 villages in Punjab, resulting in massive damage. Ahead of the harvest, more than 3.75 lakh acres of mostly paddy farmland have been submerged by the flood, which was fueled by above-normal monsoon rainfall and excessive dam water released from Bhakra, Pong, and Ranjit Sagar.
Rising death tolls
There are concerns about further degradation because the water levels at the Bhakra and Pong dams are slowly rising above danger marks. There has been a significant loss of livestock. These animals are very important for dairy and sustainability in rural households. Pathankot has been identified as the most affected district with a death toll of 6. Ludhiana, Amritsar, and several other places have also reported fatalities. The rescuers arrived in remote areas promptly and tried to help out.
The toll of fatalities might go up, with at least 30 people already dead and more missing. The National Disaster Response Force, the Army, and state agencies evacuated almost 20,000 people to safety and established 174 relief camps across the state. The rescue and relief efforts are underway. It has been stated that colleges and schools will be closed until September 7.
Preparation for disaster management
The State is prioritising connectivity, healthcare, food, and shelter for those who are affected; all state departments and utilities have been guided to increase emergency services on a war footing. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asked the central government to provide increased aid of at least ₹50,000 per acre for damaged crops in response to criticism of insufficient flood compensation and an overburdened disaster fund.
Punjab's floods remind us of the region's vulnerability to extreme climates and the continuous need for improved disaster management, which includes sustainable water management and faster response to help communities in surviving the ongoing disaster.
