Severe flooding has devastated large parts of Punjab State in northwestern India, leaving at least 29 people dead and forcing more than 250,000 residents from their homes, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
According to the AFP, authorities said over 1,000 villages remain submerged, with thousands of people now taking refuge in government relief camps. Punjab’s Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann, described the situation as “one of the worst flood disasters in decades.”
The state, often referred to as India’s “breadbasket,” has suffered extensive damage to farmland. More than 940 square kilometres of crops are under water, raising fears of food shortages.
Mann, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, warned of “devastating crop losses” and urged urgent federal assistance.
In response, Prime Minister Modi assured the state of the central government’s full backing.
“The government stands ready to provide every necessary support to Punjab in this difficult time,” he said.
Authorities also expressed concern about the scale of livestock loss, which will only become clear once the waters recede.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, with the Indian army and disaster management teams deploying over 1,000 boats and 30 helicopters to evacuate stranded residents and deliver supplies.
“The priority is to save human lives and protect helpless animals still trapped in the floods,” Chief Minister Mann emphasized.
Floodwaters have also spread into neighbouring Pakistan, where relief operations are underway. Experts say that while floods and landslides are common during the June–September monsoon season, climate change and poor urban planning have intensified the severity of recent disasters.
The Indian Meteorological Department reported that rainfall in northwest India has risen by more than one-third above the seasonal average.
In New Delhi, continuous downpours have pushed the Yamuna River above its danger level, submerging parts of the capital and creating hours-long traffic jams.