Punjab is grappling with catastrophic flooding, marking the worst deluge since 1988, as floodwaters surge across the state, displacing communities and devastating agriculture. In a sweeping crisis, 1,018 villages stand submerged, around 3 lakh acres (approximately 61,000 hectares) of farmland lay ruined, 11,300 people rescued, 4,700 evacuated, and three lives lost so far.The Times of India+1The Indian Express
Context & Historic Significance
This flood is being compared directly with the monumental disaster of 1988, when widespread flooding overwhelmed more than 9,000 villages in Punjab and affected millions. While exact metrics vary, the current situation mirrors that deep historical trauma in scale and impact.Wikipedia+1
Scope of Impact
The flood has rendered entire villages uninhabitable. Nearly 1,018 villages, spread across at least 14 districts, are under water. Some reports suggest up to 1,312 affected villages, but the widespread agreement is the base figure of 1,018 villages, consistent with Times of India, Indian Express, and official updates.
At least 3 lakh acres of standing crops, especially paddy, have been inundated just days before harvest—dealing a massive blow to farmers and the rural economy.The Times of IndiaThe Indian ExpressHindustan Times
Humanitarian Response
Rescue operations have involved multiple agencies—NDRF, SDRF, Army, BSF, and local authorities. So far, 11,300 people have been rescued, while 4,700 have been evacuated to safer shelters, relief camps, and government buildings.
Currently, 77 relief camps are operational (out of 87), housing thousands of displaced residents and providing basic needs such as food, blankets, and potable water.
Sadly, three deaths have been confirmed in flood-related incidents. Officials reported fatal casualties in Barnala, Ferozepur, and Kapurthala districts.The Times of IndiaThe New Indian Express+1
Affected Districts & Geography
Floodwaters from swollen rivers Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, and Ghaggar have caused serious breaches in embankments. The worst-hit districts include:
- Gurdaspur (323 villages),
- Kapurthala (107),
- Ferozepur (101),
- Fazilka, Tarn Taran, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Moga, Sangrur, Barnala, and others.
Individual districts like Fazilka have seen 41,099 acres damaged; Kapurthala over 28,700 acres; Ferozepur 26,700 acres; Pathankot 17,300 acres, as water levels remained critical and embankments weakened.Hindustan TimesThe Indian Express
Government Actions & Criticism
State officials have launched a special “girdawari” (crop-loss assessment) procedure to formally quantify damage and disburse compensation to affected farmers, as per directives from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Opposition leaders like Partap Singh Bajwa have called this a “betrayal of farmers”, decrying insufficient compensation, lack of proactive flood mitigation infrastructure, and the state’s continued exclusion from central crop-insurance schemes like PMFBY. He has urged immediate central relief and reforms in insurance models.The Times of India+1
Immediate Needs & Long-Term Challenges
With heavy rains still forecast and water levels precarious, authorities continue rescue and dewatering operations, clear blocked roads, and manage health risks like waterborne diseases.
Farmers face catastrophic income loss as paddy fields remain underwater days before harvest. Compensation, insurance coverage, and long-term flood infrastructure—such as embankment repairs, river desilting, and early-warning systems—are urgently needed. Opposition voices have called for reform and immediate relief aid.The Times of India+1
Wider Implications
The flooding disrupts not just household lives and livelihoods, but also has the potential to impact food supply chains and the broader economy. With Punjab being a key grain-producing region, long-lasting effects on food availability and pricing may ripple nationwide.ReutersWikipedia
Summary
In the worst flooding to hit Punjab since 1988:
- 1,018 villages submerged
- 3 lakh acres of crops destroyed
- 11,300 people rescued, 4,700 evacuated
- 3 confirmed lives lost
Relief efforts are ongoing, but delayed compensation and infrastructure gaps have raised urgent demands for reform and greater support.
