PUNJAB STANDS UNITED IN FACE OF FLOODS, REJECTS DIVISIVE PROPAGANDA

Thousands rescued as government, army, and NGOs work round the clock.

- TARUNI GANDHI

Punjab has been reeling under one of the worst flood disasters in decades. Since 26 August, incessant rainfall and sudden release of water from dams have left large swathes of land inundated, displacing families and washing away crops and livestock. According to official figures, more than 16,000 people have been rescued across 1,018 affected villages, with the combined efforts of the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local administration.

The situation has tested Punjab's resilience, yet it has also displayed the state's spirit of unity. On the ground, officials have been working relentlessly to ensure safety and rehabilitation of the affected. Among them, Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney has emerged as a key face of the administration's commitment. She has been present in the flooded belts of Ajnala and adjoining Amritsar villages since the first day waters entered homes. Videos and images of her coordinating rescues in waist-deep water have gone viral, symbolising responsive governance.

SAKSHI SAWHNEY AND MINISTERS LEAD FROM THE FRONT Unlike routine disaster reviews often restricted to offices, this time the response has been marked by direct intervention. Deputy Commissioner Amritsar Sakshi Sawhney was seen moving with boats, ensuring safe evacuation of stranded families, including the elderly and children. She supervised the shifting of patients from flooded homes to hospitals and personally inspected relief camps.

Her approach has been hands-on. "This is not the time for paperwork. We need to be with the people, hear them, and help them on the spot," Sawhney told locals during a field visit.