Punjab is facing a severe flood crisis, with 1,948 villages in 23 districts under water and 3.84 lakh people affected. The overflowing Sutlej river has wreaked havoc from Ludhiana to Norwala, while 43 people have lost their lives. The army, NDRF, and local administration are busy with rescue operations day and night, but incessant rains have made the situation worse. Flood threat in Ludhiana 15 villages in Ludhiana, including Sasrali, Bont, and Mangli Tanda, are under severe threat, where the strong flow of Sutlej has weakened the Rang Dam. In the last 48 hours, 16 feet of erosion has washed away farmers’ tube wells, and water may reach urban areas like Rahun Road, Norwala Road, and Samrala Chowk. Officials have warned that if the dam breaks, more than 50,000 people could be affected. The Army and NDRF teams have failed in their efforts to stop the erosion, but rescue operations are underway. Tragic accident in Hoshiarpur An ambulance fell into a gorge on the Chantpurni-Dharamshala national highway near Magowal village in Hoshiarpur, killing three people and seriously injuring two others. The ambulance The accident occurred due to the poor condition of the roads due to floods. Relief efforts and losses So far, 21,929 people have been safely evacuated and shifted to 196 relief camps, including those in Fazilka (2,548), Hoshiarpur (1,041), and Ferozepur (776). 1.72 lakh hectares of agricultural land was destroyed, while Gurdaspur (40,169 hectares) and Amritsar (26,701 hectares) were the worst affected. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains allocated Rs 1.27 crore for the protection of the historic Lakshmi Narayan temple in Nangal. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann demanded immediate assistance from the federal government, while actor Akshay Kumar donated Rs 5 crore. Future concerns Experts say climate change has increased the intensity of rains, which has increased pressure on rivers and dams in Punjab. Revenue Minister Hardeep Singh Mandyan said: “We will provide assistance to every affected person.” Central teams are assessing the damage, but incessant rains are hampering relief efforts. “Our people are not alone in this calamity, we will defeat it together.” — Bhagwant Mann References The Hindu, News18, Outlook India, Times of India India, Babushahi.com, X-Post