PM surveys flood-hit Punjab, announces Rs1,600-cr relief

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday conducted an aerial survey of flood-hit areas in Punjab and announced an immediate relief package of Rs 1,600 crore.

- TARUNI GANDHI

This is in addition to the Rs 12,000 crore already allocated under various central disaster relief schemes, which he emphasized is currently available to the state.

The Prime Minister Modi began his visit with an aerial inspection of Gurdaspur, Pathankot, and surrounding regions, where days of torrential rain, cloudbursts, and breaches in embankments have displaced thousands of families, damaged farmland, and destroyed critical infrastructure. Flying over swollen rivers, submerged fields, and collapsed homes, he surveyed the scale of devastation before landing in Gurdaspur for a high-level review meeting.

During the meeting, state officials presented detailed reports on human casualties, livestock deaths, crop losses, and damage to public infrastructure such as roads, schools, and healthcare centres.

Many villages, officials reported, had remained completely cut off due to washed-away roads and collapsed bridges.