Punjab continues to grapple with the aftermath of unprecedented floods that ravaged 23 districts, submerging nearly 1.92 lakh hectares of crops and displacing thousands of families. The death toll stands at 56 as state administrations and relief agencies fight a hard battle to rehabilitate affected communities and restore livelihoods. On 15 September, Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi arrived in Amritsar to personally observe the devastation, sparking renewed hope among flood victims and flood-affected farmers. Gandhi’s first stop was Ghonewal village, recently devastated by a breach in a flood bund, where he listened to harrowing accounts of homes washed away and crops destroyed. His empathetic outreach included meetings with local farmers and discussions on accelerating relief measures. The visit plans to extend across the border districts of Gurdaspur, Pathankot, and Tarn Taran, focusing on long-term rehabilitation and demands for transparent fund utilization. Amidst political debates on relief fund management, Gandhi’s presence has been described as “a significant morale booster” by local Congress workers, with calls to hold the state government accountable for flood preparedness and urban planning failures. Criticism has spotlighted excessive construction near rivers and delayed embankment maintenance leading to the floods’ scale. As Punjab slowly recovers, the focus remains on ensuring adequate aid distribution and rehabilitating the state’s vital agricultural economy, which suffered catastrophic damage during the crisis. This is a web generated news report.
