The death toll from the devastating floods in Punjab has risen to 48, according to officials on Sunday. The floods, which have been described as the worst in over three decades, have also caused extensive damage to crops, affecting 1.76 lakh hectares of land.

In response to the improving conditions, all schools, colleges, and universities across Punjab are set to reopen on September 8. Education Minister Harjot Bains announced the reopening, noting that the decision was made after days of closure due to the severe flooding. However, the Minister also stated that if any school or college is still affected by the floods, the respective Deputy Commissioner will decide whether to keep it closed. Private schools are permitted to resume operations from September 8, while government schools will reopen for classes on September 9. On September 8, teachers and staff in government schools are required to report for a comprehensive cleaning drive and inspection of buildings, in collaboration with School Management Committees, Panchayats, municipal councils, and corporations.

The floods in Punjab have been attributed to unusually heavy monsoon rains in the upper catchment areas, particularly Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. In addition, the release of surplus water from dams like Pong, Ranjit Sagar, and Bhakra has intensified the flooding in downstream districts, especially along the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers. Approximately 1,400 villages in more than 23 districts of Punjab have been affected by the flood crisis. Over 3.5 lakh residents have been impacted, with approximately 22,938 people evacuated from the worst-affected areas. The state government has established 219 relief camps, accommodating over 5,400 people.

The floods have also caused significant damage to agriculture, with over 1.76 lakh hectares of crops affected. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema described the floods as the worst in five decades, impacting nearly 2,000 villages across all districts.

The government has been actively involved in rescue and relief operations. Authorities, along with the Army, NDRF, and BSF, have evacuated around 22,938 people to safer locations. Drones have been used to deliver essential supplies like medicine and food to remote areas, while amphibious vehicles have aided in evacuations in areas like Ramdas, Amritsar. Relief camps are providing shelter to many displaced residents.

Many organizations have stepped up to provide assistance. Khalsa Aid, Global Sikhs, and The Kalgidhar Trust are among those conducting large-scale relief operations in affected districts such as Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Ferozepur, and Abohar, delivering necessities like drinking water, rations, medical aid, and fodder for livestock.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Punjab on September 9 to assess the flood damage. He is likely to conduct an aerial survey of the affected areas, including the border districts. The Punjab government has estimated the total loss due to the floods to be around Rs 13,289 crore. Two central government teams have already visited Punjab to assess the damage, and are expected to submit their reports to the central government.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta flagged off 52 trucks carrying flood relief materials for Punjab, in addition to a contribution of ₹5 crore to the Punjab Chief Minister's Relief Fund. The relief material includes essential items such as food grains, drinking water, clothes, and medicines, symbolizing Delhi's support for the flood-affected people of Punjab.