In view of the ongoing flood situation in Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday directed all schools and colleges in the state to remain close till September 7.
Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced the directive through a post on X, urging people to strictly follow the guidelines issued by the local administration.
“As directed by Hon’ble CM Punjab Sh. Bhagwant Singh Mann Ji, in view of the flood situation, all Govt/Aided/Recognised & Private Schools, Colleges, Universities & Polytechnics across Punjab will remain closed till 7th Sept 2025. Everyone is requested to strictly follow the local administration’s guidelines,” said Bains.
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha said he would allocate ₹3.25 crore from his Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds for strengthening flood protection embankments and for relief and rehabilitation efforts.
“Punjab is battling one of the worst floods in recent history. Homes destroyed, farmlands submerged, cattle lost & 30 precious lives gone. From my MPLAD Funds, I am allocating ₹3.25 Cr towards: ₹2.75 Cr for strengthening flood protection embankments so that our villages remain safe from floods in future, and ₹50 Lakh for relief & rehabilitation,” said Chadha on X, adding that he would also raise the issue in Parliament and seek maximum support from the Centre.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also said he would visit flood-affected areas in Punjab on Thursday to meet affected families. In a post on X, he assured that the Centre would provide all possible assistance.
“Today, I discussed the flood situation arising due to heavy rainfall in Punjab with the Hon’ble Governor of Punjab, the Chief Minister, and the Agriculture Minister, and obtained detailed information. I will reach Punjab tomorrow morning and meet my brothers and sisters in the flood-affected areas. In this hour of crisis, the Central Government stands firmly with the people of Punjab and will provide all possible assistance,” Chouhan said.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce a special relief package for states severely affected by heavy rainfall and floods.
“The flood situation in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and other northern states is extremely worrying. In such difficult times, the active support of the central government is crucial. Thousands of families are struggling to save their homes, lives, and loved ones. I urge an immediate announcement of a special relief package, especially for farmers, and that relief and rescue operations be expedited,” Gandhi said in a post on X.
Earlier in the day, heavy rainfall triggered a flood-like situation in Gaggo Mahal village in Ajanala, Amritsar, while Zirakpur also reported waterlogging and traffic congestion.
Due to persistent rainfall, water levels in dams across Punjab have risen significantly. Repair work is underway at the Habib Ke Bandh embankment with assistance from the Indian Army and local residents.
Speaking to ANI, Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner Deepshikha Sharma said, “One round of evacuations from the main clusters in upstream and downstream areas at Hari Ke Barrage and Hussainiwala Barrage is complete. Today, we are forming teams and sending them into the interiors to assist people in case of further rise in water levels. Our relief centres are operational. We have inspected the two main dams – Sultanwala and LMB – and they are absolutely safe.”
Sharma added that around 170 villages are currently submerged, with the population in about 60 of them affected. “Between 3,500 and 4,000 people have been evacuated. Eight relief centres are operational, housing around 500–600 people from Zirakpur and Ferozepur,” she said, urging people not to pay heed to rumours.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alert warnings for several districts of Punjab, including Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Barnala, and Sangrur. Haryana’s Yamuna Nagar, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Panchkula, and SAS Nagar are also under red alert.
(ANI)