Amid worsening flood conditions, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has ordered the closure of all schools, colleges, universities, and polytechnics across the state till September 7.
Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced the directive on X, urging citizens to strictly follow local administration guidelines.
Meanwhile, AAP MP Raghav Chadha allocated ₹3.25 crore from his MPLAD funds—₹2.75 crore for strengthening flood protection embankments and ₹50 lakh for relief and rehabilitation. Calling it one of the worst floods in recent history, he said he would also raise the matter in Parliament and press the Centre for greater support.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is scheduled to visit flood-affected areas in Punjab on Thursday. He assured that the Central government will extend all possible assistance after discussions with the Governor, Chief Minister, and Agriculture Minister of Punjab.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce a special relief package for states severely affected by heavy rainfall and floods, including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand.
Continuous heavy rainfall has led to rising water levels in dams and rivers, submerging around 170 villages and affecting populations in at least 60 villages, according to Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner Deepshikha Sharma. Over 3,500 people have been evacuated and eight relief centres are operational.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for several Punjab districts, including Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Rupnagar, Ludhiana, and Sangrur, while neighbouring Haryana districts such as Yamuna Nagar, Ambala, and Panchkula are also under warning.
