Page 3 - Punjab

Delhi cools after rain; IMD sees extended monsoon, heavy showers in east

Monsoon likely to extend beyond September as Delhi records showers; IMD warns of rain and thunderstorms in peninsular, northeast, and central India, with flood, cloudburst alerts

CM Bhagwant Mann launches 'mission Chardi Kala' to rebuild flood-hit Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced the launch of 'mission Chardi Kala', appealing to people across the country for assistance in restoring Punjab, which has suffered extensive damage due to devastating floods. In a video message, Mann highlighted the significant destruction caused by the recent floods, described as the worst since 1988. Sharing details to highlight the scale of devastation, Mann said, "approximately 2,300 villages were flooded, around 7 lakh people became homeless, and 20 lakh people were impacted." According to Mann, the floods resulted in damage to 3,200 schools, the loss of 56 lives, and the destruction of about 8,500 kilometres of roads and 2,500 bridges. Additionally, 1,400 clinics, government buildings, and 19 colleges were also severely damaged. The initial estimates indicate the flood caused damage amounting to Rs 13,800 crore. "After floodwaters recede and 'girdawari' (loss assessment), the loss could be more," he said. Mann emphasi

Ferozepur police bust cross-border drug racket, seize heroin worth ₹75 cr

The arrest was made by the CIA staff based on secret information indicating that a large consignment had arrived from across the border

SDRF row: Punjab BJP chief accuses CM Mann of misusing disaster relief fund

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar on Saturday accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of "misleading" people over the issue of funds meant for disaster relief and cited a CAG report, claiming that funds under the SDRF are "lying unused." Jakhar demanded that the chief minister apologise to the people of Punjab and also ensure proper utilisation of the disaster relief funds. "According to the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) report, it is clearly stated that as of March 31, 2023, Punjab had Rs 9,041.74 crore in SDRF funds, and the state government violated central government rules by not investing these funds appropriately," Jakhar said on X. "Funds from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) are lying unused with the Bhagwant Mann government," he said. The Punjab BJP chief claimed that funds for the years 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 have also been received by the state, bringing the total amount to Rs 12,000 crore. "Mann Sahib, your Chief Secretary, in your presence, subtly ...

₹1,600 cr 'token' for immediate works, more help to be given: Punjab Guv

Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Wednesday said Rs 1,600-crore assistance announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for flood-hit state is a 'token' amount for immediate relief works and asserted that more assistance will be given. After PM Modi announced the financial aid on Tuesday, ministers of the AAP government in Punjab lashed out at the Centre terming it a "cruel joke" and an "insult" for a state staring at losses exceeding Rs 20,000 crore. Asserting that Rs 1,600 crore is a "token" amount, Governor Kataria said after assessment, what maximum help can be given to the farmers and people whose houses have been damaged, farmers who lost their animals in floods and suffered other damage, will be given. When asked if more central assistance can come for flood-hit Punjab, the Governor, who was replying to questions from reporters in Mohali, said, "Hundred percent it will come. This is only a token." "This is for immediate (relief) works being done, it is like a token for tha

Delhi sees pleasant weather, clear skies as Yamuna bridge reopens

Vehicular movement has resumed on Delhi's Old Railway Bridge after the Yamuna's water level receded below the danger mark, bringing relief to commuters

PM Modi announces ₹1,600 crore relief package for flood-hit Punjab

PM also expressed his condolences to the family members of those who have lost their lives and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2,00,000 for their next of kin

Centre stands with flood-hit states, says PM Modi as he starts his visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the Government of India stands shoulder to shoulder with the affected people as he begins his visit to Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to take stock of the flood situation. While leaving from Delhi for Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to review the situation in the wake of floods and landslides, PM Modi wrote on X, "The Government of India stands shoulder to shoulder with those affected in this tragic hour." PM Modi will be on a day-long visit to Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to take stock of the flood situation, said officials. After visiting Himachal Pradesh, PM Modi will conduct an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in Punjab. He will visit Gurdaspur and hold discussions with senior officials and chair a review meeting on the ground situation, said officials. He will also interact with flood-affected persons as well as NDRF, SDRF and Aapda Mitra Team in Gurdaspur. PM Modi was deeply concerned about the flood situation in Punjab and was .

Punjab floods turn into real-time test lab for flood-resistant maize crops

Punjab's devastating floods have inadvertently created a natural laboratory for testing flood-resistant maize crops, providing crucial data for scientists working to restore 1.9 lakh hectares of damaged farmland across the state. International agricultural research organisation CIMMYT was already field-testing 10 maize hybrid varieties at its Ludhiana facility when floodwaters struck, submerging agricultural land across 1,400 villages in the state. Four of the experimental hybrids had been specifically developed for water-logging tolerance. "God is testing those hybrids," said Dr B M Prasanna, Managing Director of the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), told reporters here. "Within a few weeks, we will come to know the difference between a water-logging tolerance hybrid from a susceptible hybrid." The floods came just two weeks after Punjab's additional chief secretary had approached CIMMYT-BISA, requesting development of improved maize hybrids with three specific traits: ...

Health infra worth ₹780 cr damaged in Punjab floods: Minister Balbir Singh

Floods in Punjab have damaged health infrastructure worth Rs 780 crore according to initial estimates, state Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh said on Monday while asking the Central government to announce a relief package. The floods, he added, caused extensive damage to crops, houses and other infrastructure. "Our machinery and medicines worth Rs 130 crore have been damaged. Severe damage has been caused to our 1,280 dispensaries and health and wellness centres. A total of 101 community health centres have been damaged," the minister told reporters "As per initial estimates, hospital infrastructure and medical items worth Rs 780 crore has been damaged," he added. Besides, 31 sub-divisional hospitals have also been impacted, he added. The health department with the assistance of several NGOs is providing medical aid in flood-hit villages in the state, Singh said. He has written to Health Minister J P Nadda detailing the damage to the health infrastructure. Singh echoed his colle

Ahead of PM's Punjab visit, AAP govt seeks ₹20,000 crore flood relief

Punjab cabinet minister Aman Arora on Monday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce a relief package of at least Rs 20,000 crore for the flood-ravaged state during his visit. PM Modi will visit Punjab on September 9 to take stock of the flood situation. "Even though the PM has not uttered a word yet for the flood-hit Punjab, he is our PM and I welcome him with folded hands for his visit.I also expect that he should be seen standing by Punjab during his visit," Arora told reporters here. Referring to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's recent letter to the PM demanding Rs 60,000 crore of the state's funds, Arora said it is Punjab's right and it should be released. A few days ago, Mann had written to Modi to release Rs 60,000 crore of the state's funds, which he claimed were "stuck" with the government of India while highlighting that Punjab was grappling with one of the worst flood disasters in decades. Noting that the prevailing flood situation was even worse than the 198

Punjab govt to allow farmers to clear sand from flood-hit fields: Sisodia

As of Saturday, 46 people have lost their lives due to floods in Punjab, according to the officials

Punjab floods: PM Modi to visit Gurdaspur on Sept 9 as states send aid

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini and Delhi CM Rekha Gupta flagged off relief trucks for flood-hit Punjab and Himachal; Delhi govt also pledged ₹5 crore to Punjab CM's Relief Fund

If PM Narendra Modi can plan Bihar tour, why not visit flood-hit Punjab?

Punjab reels from floods as political fault lines deepen - Sikh leadership rifts, BJP's Punjab strategy, and separatist propaganda fuel alienation

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann hospitalised at Fortis Hospital in Mohali

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was hospitalised on Friday evening after his health condition did not improve, party sources said. Mann (51) was suffering from viral fever and some digestion-related issues for the past two days. He was taken to Fortis Hospital in Mohali after his condition did not improve by evening. A team of doctors is examining him at the hospital. Following news of his illness, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal visited Mann on Thursday to check on his health at his official residence. Kejriwal arrived in Punjab on Wednesday evening to assess the flood situation and was originally scheduled to visit the affected areas alongside the chief minister. However, in Mann's absence, Kejriwal proceeded to visit the flood-hit areas in Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district. A year ago, too, Mann, who was diagnosed with a bacterial infection, had been admitted to Fortis Mohali for a few days. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the meeting of the Pu

'Deeply anguished': President Murmu on floods and landslides across states

The President's remarks come as several northern states continue to be hit by heavy rainfall, leading to flooding and disruption

IMD forecasts more rain for Delhi as Yamuna stays above danger mark

Floods and landslides batter Himachal, Punjab and J&K, causing deaths, crop losses and widespread disruption; authorities set up relief camps

Chouhan visits flood-affected areas in Punjab, assures full support

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday began his visit to flood-hit areas in Punjab's Amritsar district, where he interacted with farmers affected by the deluge. Earlier upon his arrival, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria submitted a detailed report on the flood situation to Chouhan at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar. Chouhan arrived at the Amritsar airport and is visiting some of the flood-hit areas in the state. The minister will visit villages in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Kapurthala districts and interact with affected farmers. Chouhan, who was accompanied by Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar and party senior leader Tarun Chugh, reached Ajnala in Amritsar district and interacted with farmers. During his interactions, the union minister took stock of the situation. A farmer there showed him the extensive damage caused to the crop. Chouhan even held the crop, which had been damaged after remaining submerged. Earlier, .

Punjab govt releases fund of ₹71 crore for 12 flood-hit districts

Punjab Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian on Wednesday said the state government has released a fund of Rs 71 crore to deal with the current floods. A sum of Rs 35.50 crore was released earlier to all districts. The fund is now supplemented by a sum of Rs 35.50 crore for 12 districts that have borne the maximum brunt of the floods, Mundian said in a statement. Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Financial Commissioner, Revenue, Anurag Verma, said the latest funding is meant for, among others, Amritsar, Bathinda, Barnala, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Fatehgarh Sahib and Gurdaspur.

Torrential monsoon rains cause floods, landslides across Northern India

Rescue and relief are underway as swollen rivers flood roads, with army, NDRF, SDRF, and authorities working to aid affected areas and restore normalcy