41 Dead, 1,616 Living In Relief Camps Following Devastating Flood In Punjab

At least 19 districts that were affected by the floods include – Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Patiala, Ludhiana, SAS Nagar, Jalandhar, Sangrur, Bathinda and Pathankot.

Army personnel during a flood relief and rescue operation in the Haryana, Punjab Chandigarh after flood-like sitituation in these areas following heavy monsoon rains. ( Image Source :PTI )

Forty one people have been killed and about 1,616 are still living in 173 relief camps following the devastating floods that hit Punjab, according to a PTI report. Incessant rainfall, followed by flash floods has wreaked havoc in in the state. At least 19 districts that were affected by the floods include – Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Patiala, Ludhiana, SAS Nagar, Jalandhar, Sangrur, Bathinda and Pathankot. Around 27,286 people were evacuated from waterlogged by the government and rescue agencies, reported PTI.

The worst affected areas were Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, Patiala and Sangrur. The floods also caused significant damage to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) infrastructure, said Punjab Power Minister Harbhajan Singh.

PSPCL lost an estimated Rs 16 crore in the form of infrastructure damage. The damage includes uprooted poles, damaged transformers and flooded substations, which damaged the equipment and power lines, Singh added. 

“The loss of infrastructure has had a significant impact on the power supply in the affected areas, affecting essential services. The PSPCL workforce worked round the clock to restore power supply to the affected areas,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, electricity supply has been restored to all 595 places affected by the floods, Singh added.

The minister said, critical infrastructure, such as hospitals, medical facilities, telecom and water supply were given the highest priority. He said, As per PTI, twenty 66 Kilovolt (KV) substations across the state were inundated, severely damaging infrastructure.

On Sunday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that the state suffered estimated losses of nearly Rs 1,000 crore due to the floods. He also added that a detailed report on the losses will be sent to the Union Government and a relief package will be sought. 

Mann also said the water level at the Bhakra dam was below the danger mark and the state government was keeping a strict vigil on the entire situation. Since the Bhakra dam was still below the danger mark there was no immediate need of release of any water from it, Mann said.