The north Indian state of Punjab has officially been declared flood-affected after a spell of incessant heavy rains and devastating floods. At least 30 people have died and more than 354,000 people have been affected by the crisis in all 23 districts of the state. The crisis, which Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has termed as the worst since 1988, has led to a massive, multi-agency response to control the disaster at hand.
The heavy rains have led to an increase in the water levels of the state major rivers-Sutlej, Beas and Ravi to near danger levels and hundreds of low-lying regions are at the highest risk. The local people, especially those residing along the banks of the Sutlej, have reported to remain on high alert and maintain a constant watch to check the rising waters. Jasveer Singh, who lives in the village of Sabra, says that people are trying to keep the overflow in check with sacks wherever the dam is leaking.
Massive Destruction of Agriculture, and Livelihoods
Being a large agricultural region, commonly known as the food basket of India, Punjab is under a huge pressure on its agricultural industry. The government has affirmed that about 148,000 hectares of agricultural land have been flooded and there is massive destruction of crops. This has brought to the fore serious issues of livelihood of the one-quarter of the 30 million people of Punjab who rely directly on agriculture.
In a graphic display of the crisis, reports in cities such as Ludhiana indicate that floodwaters had already entered into the homes of people displacing families and destroying property. This has already displaced 20,000 people. Relief camps have been set up in hundreds to offer shelter and basic amenities, so that displaced families can get food, medical care, and security.
Citizen Clamor Over Government Inaction
Although relief operations are underway, local communities and Punjab citizens have publicly aired their grievances and anger citing a lack of civil administration to adequately contain the destruction. Governmental inefficiency and unpreparedness have been widely accused of and the citizens have alleged that the government has been slow and ineffective in responding to the worst floods in decades. The mass media of the people emphasizes the harsh conditions on the ground and the necessity of more active and strong actions of the state authorities.
The weather agency of India attributes such abnormally high rains to the recurrent encounter of monsoon currents and westerly disturbances, a weather pattern that is also affecting other regions of northern India. Floods have also hit hard Pakistan on the other side of the border in the Punjab province, where two million people have been estimated to have been affected in the recent weeks.
You May Like To Read:
