Attachments
1 SITUATION OVERVIEW
Punjab is reeling under one of the worst flood disasters in its recent history, with all 23 districts impacted. As of 8 September 2025, nearly 20 lakh people across 2,050 villages have been affected, and 3,87,898 individuals displaced from their homes. The official death toll has reached 48, while three persons remain missing. The agricultural sector has suffered massive losses, with more than 1.76 lakh hectares of farmland submerged. Alongside crop damage, livestock has been badly hit, with over 2.52 lakh animals and 5.88 lakh poultry birds affected due to waterlogging, fodder shortages, and lack of shelter. Housing damage has also been significant, with 97 homes fully damaged and 363 partially damaged, forcing many families to depend on relief camps for shelter.
The health sector has faced unprecedented destruction. According to the health minister, medical infrastructure worth ₹780 crore has been damaged, including machinery and medicines worth ₹130 crore. A total of 1,280 dispensaries and health and wellness centres, 101 community health centres, and 31 sub-divisional hospitals Figure 1 | Flooded area, at Talwandi Rai Dadu village of Ajnala, in Amritsar district Figure 2 | Flooded area, at Talwandi Rai Dadu village of Ajnala, in Amritsar district have been impacted. This disruption has severely strained healthcare delivery at a time when stagnant water and poor sanitation are heightening the risk of outbreaks such as dengue, cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea, and hepatitis. The risk of snakebites has also increased. Medical teams, including ASHA workers and Community Health Officers, are conducting door-to-door checks, distributing medicines, and providing anti-snake venom in flood-hit areas.
The education sector has been badly hit, with around 3,300 government and private schools damaged or inundated across the state. Schools were closed on 27 August due to the deluge, and though reopening began on 8–9 September, many remain shut in the worst-hit districts. Thirty schools in Fazilka and 36 in Ferozepur are still inundated, all schools in Ajnala and Lopoke (Amritsar) remain closed until 12 September, and dozens more in Gurdaspur, Pathankot, and Sangrur continue to be non-operational due to either structural damage or flooding from the Ghaggar river. This has disrupted learning for thousands of children, adding to the long-term recovery burden.
Relief and rescue operations are continuing at scale. The Punjab government, with support from central agencies, has evacuated 22,938 people from the worst-hit areas and established 219 relief camps sheltering 5,400 persons. A total of 481 veterinary teams are providing animal care, while 23 NDRF teams, Army units, helicopters, and 144 boats have been deployed for rescue. Immediate relief worth ₹71 crore has been released. Cabinet ministers are personally supervising operations across districts: Chief Minister has been monitoring operations daily through virtual meetings with the Chief Secretary and DGP, and has directed officials to ensure no flood-affected family is left without food, safe drinking water, or medical care.
At the political level, Punjab leaders have strongly appealed to the Centre for urgent financial support. Cabinet Minister has demanded a ₹20,000 crore relief package from the Prime Minister during his Punjab visit and immediate release of ₹60,000 crore of stalled funds, including GST compensation and Rural Development Funds. Water Resources Minister called for a ₹25,000 crore compensation package, highlighting massive losses to crops, schools, roads, and power infrastructure, and criticised the Centre for treating Punjab step-motherly compared to other states.
Humanitarian organisations are complementing government efforts. The Indian Red Cross, Plan India, ADRA, , Reliance Foundation, Humane World for Animal, HAI, United Way Mumbai, and Khalsa Aid, Eco Pahadi, Feeding India are providing food, clean water, sanitation, medical aid, and livelihood support. Sphere India is facilitating inter-agency coordination and supporting information management through its network of partners and local NGOs.
Although floodwaters are beginning to recede in some areas, the road to recovery will be long. The immediate focus remains on health, shelter, education, and livelihood support, while medium- to longterm planning is urgently required for rehabilitation and rebuilding Punjab’s devastated infrastructure, economy, and essential services.