Punjab Floods Kill 48, Ravage Villages and Farmland

State Government Pegs Loss at 140 Billion Rupees

September 8, 2025

Photo used for representation only

Heavy rains and swelling rivers have unleashed devastating floods across Punjab, leaving 48 people dead and displacing hundreds of thousands. More than 2,050 villages in 23 districts have been inundated, affecting nearly 390,000 (3.9 lakh) residents. Restoring farmland productivity is now the state government’s most urgent task, while the Centre must move quickly to release relief funds.

Rescue agencies have evacuated about 22,938 people so far, with 219 relief camps established, of which 124 remain active, housing over 5,400 people. The operations involve 23 National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) teams, 22 Army units, helicopters from the Army and Air Force and BSF support, alongside 170 state-provided boats, according to media reports, including The Times of India, The Indian Express, The New Indian Express, and Hindustan Times.

The worst-hit district is Gurdaspur, where 40,169 hectares of crops (roughly the size of Mumbai city) have been destroyed, with 329 villages and about 145,000 (1.45 lakh) residents impacted. Amritsar follows with 136,000 (1.36 lakh) people affected, while Ferozepur and Fazilka report 38,000 and 25,000 residents affected respectively.

In total, crops on nearly 175,000 (1.75 lakh) hectares, or 442,000 acres (nearly three times the size of Mumbai city, or roughly 250,000 football fields), have been damaged. Silt and sand, in some places over a foot deep, now cover fields, threatening to derail the upcoming Rabi sowing season.

The state government has estimated interim economic losses at 140 billion (14,000 crore) rupees.

The claims include 18.6 billion (1,858 crore) rupees for crops (equal to the total annual income of nearly 62,000 average families in Punjab), 19.7 billion (1,970 crore) rupees for roads and bridges, 15.2 billion (1,520 crore) rupees for water resources, 7.8 billion (780 crore) rupees for health, and 5.4 billion (542 crore) rupees for education, along with further damages to power, animal husbandry, and housing.

One report pegs the overall figure at 133 billion (13,289 crore) rupees.

Beyond immediate destruction, livestock losses have cut deep into rural incomes.

Floodwaters surged after massive releases from major reservoirs.

On Sep. 7, the Pong dam discharged close to 100,000 (one lakh) cusecs, while the Bhakra dam released up to 85,000 cusecs, forcing evacuation advisories in Ropar and Anandpur Sahib. Volunteers joined NDRF and Army units in reinforcing embankments along the Sutlej. Officials admit that years of silt accumulation have cut the storage capacity of Gobind Sagar reservoir at Bhakra.

The floods have also disrupted education, with schools and colleges shut in late August. They are now reopening gradually from Sept. 8.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due in Gurdaspur on Sep. 9 for an aerial survey and review, following earlier visits by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Political leaders, including the Shiromani Akali Dal, have demanded relief packages of up to 200 billion (20,000 crore) rupees and complete farm loan waivers.

Non-resident Indians from the U.K., France and Austria are donating buffaloes to farmers in Fazilka and Ferozepur, where many dairy households lost their main source of livelihood. Punjabi singers such as Diljit Dosanjh and Karan Aujla, as well as hoteliers and Canadian and Australian diaspora groups, have also pledged large sums and proceeds to aid long-term rehabilitation.

Punjab’s immediate priority is to restore farmland productivity. The state’s decision to let farmers extract and sell the sand deposited on their fields must be implemented quickly, with machinery and logistics provided at scale. Without swift clearance, sowing for the Rabi season will be badly delayed, adding to already massive crop losses.

Equally urgent is the release of Central relief. The interim claim of 140 billion (14,000 crore) rupees by the state government must translate into rapid disbursal, covering crop damage, infrastructure repair and compensation for families who lost homes and livestock. Targeted veterinary support and fodder supply will be crucial to help dairy households recover incomes. Without these steps, the devastation risks spilling into the next harvest cycle, deepening both economic and social distress.

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