Floods have wreaked havoc in Punjab. According to the government report, more than 3.87 lakh people have been affected in 15 districts. With 3 more deaths in Mansa, Moga and Patiala, the total death toll has reached 51. 1,84,938 hectares of crops have been destroyed, including 3.70 lakh acres of paddy, 30 thousand acres of cotton, 29 thousand acres of sugarcane and 7,430 acres of maize. The damage to houses and livestock is still under assessment. Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian said that the full extent of the damage will be known only after the water recedes.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann participated in the cabinet meeting through video conferencing from a private hospital in Mohali. In the meeting, the Punjab cabinet has decided to give compensation of Rs 20 thousand per acre to the farmers of the flood-affected areas. Along with this, the ‘Jis da Khet Us Di Ret’ campaign has also been given the green signal to remove the soil from the fields of the flood-affected areas. With this, farmers will be able to remove the sand from their fields in the form of silt and sell it further. The Chief Minister said that the Punjab government will provide compensation of Rs 4 lakh per person to the families who lost their lives due to the floods. A survey will be conducted for those whose houses have collapsed and due compensation will be given. Apart from this, farmers in the flood-affected areas will be given an additional time of six months to repay the loans taken from cooperative banks. During this period, farmers will not need to pay any installment for six months. The Chief Minister said that they will also provide compensation to the farmers for the loss of cattle and other animals.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that the Punjab government will launch a special vaccination campaign to prevent diseases in the flood-affected areas. Apart from this, fogging machines will be provided in 1700 villages so that the spread of diseases can be prevented. He said that a special team of doctors will come to each village and treat the people. Along with this, a cleanliness drive will also be launched in the flood-affected areas.
Relief and rescue efforts by the government
The government has intensified relief work. So far, 23,015 people have been evacuated. 5,416 people are living in 123 relief camps. 30 army helicopters, BSF, NDRF and SDRF teams are working at the ground level. Dry ration, drinking water, medicines and essential goods are being delivered to the affected areas 24 hours a day. 1,36,105 people are affected in Amritsar, 1,45,000 in Gurdaspur and 25,037 in Fazilka. The maximum crop area of 40,169 hectares has been damaged in Gurdaspur.
Farmers’ Debt: Increasing Burden
Floods have further increased the debt burden on Punjab farmers. According to the Punjab State Bankers Committee, farmers have a debt of Rs 96,867 crore as of June 30, 2025, which was Rs 57,892 crore in 2014. The debt is increasing by Rs 40.41 lakh every hour. According to the Union Ministry of Agriculture, the debt was Rs 1.04 lakh crore on March 31, 2025. The government has estimated crop loss of 4.59 lakh acres, which is worth Rs 3,125 crore. 45,000 farmers are already defaulters on the loan of Rs 2,400 crore of Agricultural Development Banks. The Punjab government has postponed the loan installment for 6 months, but the farmers are demanding complete loan waiver.
Harinder Singh Lakhowal of BKU (Lakhowal) demanded compensation of Rs 1 lakh per acre and compensation for the loss of laborers. Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan of BKU (Ugrahan) demanded that the floods be declared a national calamity, while Lachhman Singh Sewewala of Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union expressed concern over the plight of the workers. Farmers and workers are expecting full compensation and interest waiver from the government, but the limited announcements made by the government so far have disappointed them.
