PM Modi to visit flood-affected Punjab and Himachal on Sep 9
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Chandigarh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit flood-ravaged Punjab on Tuesday to review the situation before travelling to neighboring Himachal Pradesh, which has also been severely hit by heavy rains.
Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar said on Sunday that the Prime Minister has been “deeply concerned about the flood situation in Punjab and is closely monitoring it”. He added, “He is visiting Punjab on September 9 to personally assess the local conditions and understand the ground realities to provide maximum assistance to the people of Punjab.”
Earlier, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had toured the state, while two central inter-ministerial teams also conducted inspections. Their reports will be submitted to the Centre shortly.
The Prime Minister is expected to land in Amritsar on Tuesday afternoon, after casting his vote in the vice-presidential election in Delhi. He will hold a review meeting with state ministers and officials there.
Punjab has estimated a loss of Rs 13,289 crore due to the floods, which have affected 1,996 villages across 22 districts and impacted a population of over 3.8 lakh. Revenue Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian said 22,854 people have been rescued so far, with the highest numbers in Gurdaspur, Fazilka, and Ferozepur districts.
Meanwhile, two Union Home Ministry teams will arrive in Himachal Pradesh to assess the damage in Chamba and Kullu districts, which have been among the worst affected, a senior state government functionary told IANS. The state government has pegged the loss at Rs 3,959 crore, while the death toll from rain-related incidents has risen to 366.
The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) reported that 869 roads remain blocked, along with 1,572 disrupted power lines and 389 damaged water supply schemes. Rescue operations by the Indian Air Force were deployed during the Manimahesh Yatra to assist stranded pilgrims.
The Himachal government has demanded a special relief package from the Centre and passed a resolution in the Assembly to declare the state as disaster-hit. In 2023, the state reported damages exceeding Rs 10,000 crore due to natural calamities, and this year too, Shimla and Kullu districts have borne the brunt of heavy devastation.
