Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, characterizing the ₹1,600 crore central relief package for flood-hit Punjab as a "grave injustice". In a letter dated September 16, 2025, Gandhi urged the Prime Minister to conduct a swift and transparent damage assessment and deliver a comprehensive relief package to help the state recover from the catastrophic floods.
Gandhi emphasized the inadequacy of the announced relief, especially considering that estimates suggest the total damages exceed ₹20,000 crore. He highlighted the widespread devastation in Punjab, where over 4 lakh acres of paddy crop have been destroyed, more than 10 lakh animals have perished, and lakhs of people, predominantly from marginalized communities, have lost their homes. He also noted that the floods have rendered vast tracts of land uncultivable in the near future, with thousands of acres still submerged and villages cut off.
Despite the crisis's gravity, Gandhi praised the resilience and unity of the people of Punjab, recounting how communities rallied to support those who had lost everything. He witnessed people opening their homes to strangers and sharing whatever little they had, demonstrating the best of humanity amidst the tragedy. Gandhi stressed the importance of reassuring every farmer, soldier, and family in Punjab that India stands with them, emphasizing the need to come together and extend all possible support to rebuild their future.
The letter follows Gandhi's visit to the flood-affected areas in Punjab, where he interacted with affected families and assessed the relief efforts. He also met with farmers in Gurdaspur who were impacted by the severe floods.
The ₹1,600 crore relief package announced by PM Modi has faced criticism from other leaders as well. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has also described the central relief package as inadequate, comparing it to "a drop in the ocean". Mann questioned the delay in releasing the relief funds and compared the situation to India's prompt aid to Afghanistan, insinuating partiality from the central government. Punjab ministers have pointed out that the state sought ₹80,000 crore, including ₹60,000 crore of pending dues, to facilitate rebuilding and recovery efforts.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Railways, Ravneet Singh Bittu, stated that the Centre has released an additional ₹240.80 crore to the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) of Punjab. He affirmed the central government's commitment to supporting Punjab and its people, highlighting that the additional fund is based on the 15th Finance Commission's recommendations for the financial year 2025-26.
Various organizations are also contributing to flood relief efforts in Punjab. Reliance Foundation, in partnership with Reliance Retail, Jio, and Vantara, is implementing a ten-point humanitarian and relief program to assist affected communities. Their initiatives include providing dry ration kits to 10,000 households, cash vouchers worth ₹5,000 each to 1,000 vulnerable families, powering community kitchens, and setting up portable water filters. Other organizations like the Indian Red Cross, Plan India, ADRA, and Khalsa Aid are also providing essential aid such as food, clean water, sanitation, and medical support.
