The article emphasises that despite the destruction and displacement experienced by thousands of families, the ‘unbreakable spirit of Punjab stands tall, unshaken, united, and unstoppable.’ State and federal agencies are coordinating their response, and relief efforts are proceeding quickly.
An embankment in the district’s eastern region was severely strained by the Sutlej River’s high water flow, prompting the district administration of Ludhiana to declare a high alert. Authorities have warned that if the embankment—referred to locally as the “bundh”—weakens further, several villages are at risk of flooding.
The villages identified as being at risk are Sasrali, Boont, Rawat, Hawas, Seera, Boothgarh, Mangli Tanda, Dheri, Khawajke, Khassi Khurd, Mangli Kadar, Mattewara, Mangat, and Meharban.
Residents living in low-lying and single-storey homes have been advised to move to upper floors or temporarily relocate to safer areas. Relief centres have been established at Satsang Ghars along Rahon (Ghonsgarh), Chandigarh, and Tibba roads, as well as at Kailash Nagar, Khassi Kalan, Bhukhri, and various schools and mandis in Mattewara.
In an advisory, the district administration urged residents to keep important documents in waterproof bags, prioritise moving the elderly, children, and the sick to safety, and stay alert while cooperating with rescue teams.
Punjab is currently experiencing one of its most severe flood disasters in decades. This crisis has been caused by the overflowing of the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers, combined with torrential rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and parts of Punjab.
According to the state government, the floods have affected 1,902 villages across 23 districts, impacting 3.84 lakh people. So far, 20,972 people have been evacuated. Crops on 1.71 lakh hectares have been destroyed.
The death toll has risen to 43, with the highest casualties reported in:
- Hoshiarpur (7)
- Pathankot (6)
- Barnala and Amritsar (5 each)
- Ludhiana and Bathinda (4 each)Additionally, three individuals remain missing in Pathankot.To guarantee direct coordination and efficient relief operations, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has sent gazetted officers to each village affected by flooding. Mann has made it clear that those in need will receive prompt solutions. A special ‘girdawari’ (survey of losses) has been ordered to assess the damages to crops, property, and infrastructure.
The Bhakra Dam has neared its maximum capacity of 1,680 feet. On Thursday, 85,000 cusecs of water were released, which prompted the Rupnagar and Patiala district administrations to issue evacuation alerts for low-lying areas situated near the Sutlej and Ghaggar rivers.
