Punjab grapples with floods: 7 districts, including CM Mann’s village, Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara affected; 400 students stranded in Gurdaspur Navodaya School

Chandigarh: Torrential rains and water released from dams have triggered severe flooding across seven districts in Punjab, causing widespread disruption.

Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Firozpur, and Fazilka are reeling under the deluge, with over 150 villages submerged.

Rescue operations are underway, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Indian Army teams evacuating 92 people so far.

The iconic Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, located across the border in Pakistan, has been severely affected, with floodwaters from the Ravi inundating its premises, including the langar hall and other facilities, to a depth of five to seven feet.

In Punjab, the Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC) near the Pathankot-Jammu highway has breached, flooding residential areas and disrupting traffic. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s village, Satoj in Sangrur district, is also waterlogged.

A critical situation has unfolded at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Gurdaspur’s Daburi, where aroud 400 students and teachers are stranded due to floodwaters. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with boats deployed to evacuate those trapped.

District authorities, led by Deputy Commissioner Dalwinder Jeet Singh, are coordinating with NDRF and Army teams to ensure their safe extraction. Parents remain anxious as water levels continue to pose challenges.

The state government has taken swift action, canceling leaves for officials in affected areas and setting up control rooms across districts to assist residents. Schools have been ordered closed until August 30.

Chief Minister Mann is scheduled to visit the flood-hit areas of Pathankot and Gurdaspur today and has constituted a ministerial committee to oversee relief efforts.

Ministers Balbir Singh, Gurmeet Singh Khudian, and Barinder Kumar Goyal are monitoring the situation statewide, with specific responsibilities assigned to other ministers for Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, and Fazilka.

The Chandigarh Meteorological Centre issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Barnala, Sangrur, and Mansa today, with light to moderate rain expected elsewhere.

Despite the downpour, Punjab’s average maximum temperature has risen by 2.6°C but remains 5.1°C below normal, with Faridkot recording the highest at 33.5°C.

In a commendable effort, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has stepped forward to provide langar and shelter to flood victims, releasing helpline numbers for assistance. Similarly, BJP leaders in Pathankot have shared contact numbers for residents needing aid.

In a daring operation, the Indian Army airlifted stranded civilians and CRPF personnel from a collapsing building at Madhopur Headworks using helicopters.

As rescue and relief operations intensify, authorities are urging residents to stay vigilant and cooperate with evacuation efforts. The state remains on high alert as the flood situation continues to evolve.