Is PM Modi Visiting Flood-Affected Punjab on September 9?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The Prime Minister is set to visit Punjab on September 9.
- Flood damage in Punjab is estimated at Rs 13,289 crore.
- A total of 22,854 people have been rescued so far.
- Two teams from the central government are assessing the situation.
- Himachal Pradesh is also facing significant flooding issues.
Chandigarh, Sep 7 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the flood-affected state of Punjab on Tuesday to evaluate the ongoing situation. Following his time in Punjab, he is expected to proceed to neighboring Himachal Pradesh, which has also suffered from severe flooding, to review the conditions there.
In response to the upcoming visit, state BJP leader Sunil Jakhar stated on Sunday that Prime Minister Modi “is deeply concerned about the flood conditions in Punjab and is closely monitoring the situation.”
“His visit on September 9 aims to personally assess local circumstances and grasp the reality on the ground to extend maximum support to the residents of Punjab,” he added.
Previously, Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Chauhan was dispatched to evaluate the situation in the state.
“Two teams from the central government, which have been assessing flood damage in Punjab, are preparing to submit their reports to the central authorities. The Government of India stands firmly with the people of Punjab,” Jakhar noted on X.
It is reported that after casting his vote in the vice-presidential election on September 9 in Delhi, the Prime Minister is likely to arrive in Amritsar by Tuesday afternoon, where he will convene a review meeting with state officials and ministers.
The state government has calculated losses totaling Rs 13,289 crore due to the flooding. This figure was shared with members of two central inter-ministerial teams currently assessing the damage in Punjab.
Punjab Revenue Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian reported that 1,996 villages across 22 districts have been affected, impacting a population of 387,013. A total of 22,854 individuals have been rescued, with the highest evacuations occurring in Gurdaspur district (5,581), followed by Fazilka (4,202), Ferozepur (3,888), Amritsar (3,260), Hoshiarpur (1,616), Pathankot (1,139), and Kapurthala (1,428).
In the meantime, two teams from the Union Home Ministry will be arriving in Himachal Pradesh to evaluate the devastation in Chamba and Kullu districts, which have experienced significant destruction due to relentless rainfall, leading to loss of life and extensive damage to infrastructure and agriculture. Both teams will remain in the area until September 10 and will compile a report for the Home Ministry, as informed by a senior state official to IANS.
The state government has estimated damages in Himachal Pradesh at Rs 3,959 crore.
Ongoing rainfall during the monsoon has continuously escalated damage estimates across all 12 districts of the state.
The Indian Air Force has been deployed to assist with rescue operations for the Manimahesh Yatra to help stranded pilgrims.
The Congress government in the state has been advocating for a special relief package from the central government. In June, 31 lives were lost in the Seraj assembly constituency of Mandi district, which also saw its road connectivity severely disrupted. Subsequently, Kullu, Kangra, Mandi, and currently Chamba districts have been significantly affected, with the death toll currently at 366.
According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), 869 roads remain obstructed, while 1,572 power lines and 389 water supply schemes have been disrupted.
During the Monsoon Session of the Assembly, the government passed a resolution to declare the state a national disaster area due to the unprecedented disaster situation.
In 2023, Himachal Pradesh has incurred losses exceeding Rs 10,000 crore due to natural disasters. In 2024, Shimla and Kullu districts also faced significant calamities.