There has been heavy damage to crops in the state. Initially it was reported that crops on about 1.71 lakh hectares of land were destroyed, but in the latest report this figure has increased to 4,38,040 acres.
डूबता पंजाब! कुदरत का कहर, बाढ़ में 1900 से ज्यादा गांव डूबे, 4.38 लाख एकड़ फसल बर्बाद, अब तक 43 की मौत
Punjab is currently facing the worst flood in the last four decades. The overflowing waters of rivers like Ravi, Beas, Sutlej have caused massive devastation in the state. More than 1900 villages in the state have been submerged. According to the latest government figures, the number of villages affected by the floods has increased to 1,902. Almost all the 23 districts of the state have been affected by the floods.
Damage to crops and loss of life
Crops have suffered heavy damage in the state. Initially it was reported that crops were destroyed in about 1.71 lakh hectares of land, but in the latest report this figure has increased to 4,38,040 acres.
6 more people have lost their lives in flood-related incidents. With this, the death toll in the state has so far become 43.
Affected areas and relief work
Gurdaspur district has suffered the most devastation. About 1 lakh acres of crops have been destroyed here and 329 villages have been affected. Amritsar, Ferozepur, Fazilka have also witnessed widespread devastation.
So far 384,205 people have been affected by the floods in the state, while 20,972 people have been shifted to safer places.
196 relief camps have been set up in the state, the highest of which is in Baranala, where 6,755 people have taken shelter.
31 NDRF teams, soldiers, Air Force columns, 123 boats, more than 30 helicopters and BSF are also being used for relief and rescue.
Alert in Patiala district
An alert has been issued around the Gaggar river in Patiala district and deployment of gazetted officers has been ensured in every flood-affected village.
Demand for central assistance and agricultural help
State Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian has demanded from Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan that the compensation for crops be increased to ₹ 50,000 per acre, because the current compensation of ₹ 6,800 per acre is very less. He has also demanded immediate release of RDF (Rural Development Fund) and MDF (Market Development Fund) funds of ₹ 8,000 crore. At the same time, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has also demanded from the Prime Minister to release the pending central funds of ₹ 60,000 crore.
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