Punjab is grappling with severe flood devastation, even as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann returns to office after a week-long hospital stay. Mann was admitted to Fortis Hospital in Mohali on September 5, 2025, due to exhaustion and a low heart rate, exacerbated by his extensive travels to flood-affected areas. Discharged on September 11, he has plunged back into coordinating relief efforts, stating he is a "Dukh Mantri" (Minister of Sorrow) not just a "Mukh Mantri" (Chief Minister), to emphasize his commitment to the suffering populace.
The floods, triggered by heavy monsoon rains and the release of excess water from dams, have impacted all 23 districts of Punjab, affecting nearly 20 lakh people across 2,050 villages. As of September 8, almost 388,000 individuals have been displaced from their homes, and the official death toll has reached 48, with three still missing. The agricultural sector has suffered immensely, with over 1.76 lakh hectares of farmland submerged. Livestock has also been badly affected, with over 252,000 animals and 588,000 poultry birds impacted.
The scale of destruction is immense. Approximately 3,300 government and private schools have been damaged or inundated, disrupting education for thousands of children. Many schools remain closed due to structural damage or flooding, especially in districts like Fazilka, Ferozepur, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, and Sangrur. The health sector has also faced unprecedented destruction, with medical infrastructure worth ₹780 crore damaged, including machinery and medicines worth ₹130 crore. A total of 1,280 dispensaries and health and wellness centers, 101 community health centers, and 31 sub-divisional hospitals have been impacted, raising concerns about potential disease outbreaks.
The Punjab government, with support from central agencies, has been working to provide relief and rescue to those affected. Over 22,938 people have been evacuated from the worst-hit areas, and 219 relief camps have been established, sheltering 5,400 people. Immediate relief worth ₹71 crore has been released. The government has deployed 23 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, Army units, helicopters, and 144 boats for rescue operations. Medical teams are conducting door-to-door checks, distributing medicines, and providing anti-snake venom in flood-hit areas. Veterinary teams are also providing care for animals affected by the floods.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas and announced financial assistance of ₹1600 crore for Punjab, in addition to the ₹12,000 crore already allocated to the state. He also announced ex-gratia payments for the families of the deceased and support for children orphaned due to the floods.
Humanitarian organizations and individuals are also contributing to the relief efforts. Social workers from Bengal, under the Indian Human Assistance (IHA) Foundation, are providing relief materials to flood-hit families in various districts. Khalsa Aid has been carrying out large-scale relief operations in Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Ferozepur, and Abohar, providing clean drinking water, ration bags, and medical assistance.
Despite these efforts, the road to recovery will be long. The immediate focus remains on health, shelter, education, and livelihood support. Medium- to long-term planning is crucial for rehabilitating and rebuilding Punjab's devastated infrastructure, economy, and essential services. The Punjab government has requested a ₹20,000 crore relief package from the central government, along with the immediate release of ₹60,000 crore of stalled funds. The state is also conducting special girdawari (damage assessment) to ensure fair compensation for flood-related losses.
