Floods in Punjab have taken an extreme toll with an estimated loss of Rs.10 cr and more than 1 million people affected. The situation has turned grim in the face of the impending flood.
What are the effects of the flood in Punjab?
The floods in Punjab have caused great damage and displacement of people.
The floods have destroyed homes, crops, businesses, and infrastructure. The government has set up shelters for the displaced people and is providing food, water, and medical help to them. The government is also providing relief funds to the affected people. The government has warned that attempts to loot the relief materials will be dealt with severely. The devastation caused by the flood is also evident in its effects on castes and religious communities. According to a report in Times of India, hundreds of Buddhists are being given shelter at Buddhist temples after being evacuated from their homes due to flooding. According to The Hindu, many Sikhs have faced problems getting food and shelter at Sikh Gurdwaras due to the floods. Several Sikh families are living in tents on the premises of Gurudwara Sahibs, which have been used as temporary shelters for evacuees since August 29.
Floods in Punjab
The floods have also caused major disruption to transport and communication networks, as well as the power supply.
The state government has issued an alert warning of more heavy rains in the coming days, which could cause further damage to infrastructure. The Centre has also announced an Rs. 500 crore package for the flood-affected areas. true
Hurricane Sandy and the Flooding in New York
Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast of the United States on October 29, 2012. The storm was a Cat 5 hurricane, which is the highest-ranking category of storm. The storm caused extensive flooding in New York City and other parts of the East Coast.
Status of Punjab Floods
The floods that have affected Punjab in recent days are continuing. As of now, the death toll has risen to 111 people and the number of people affected stands at 1,096,000. The estimated losses due to the floods so far stand at Rs. Cr 1,498 crore.
Punjab is one of the most agricultural-dependent states in India and a large part of its economy depends on agriculture. The state accounts for around 24% of the country’s GDP and around 33% of its total population is dependent on agriculture. The recent floods have caused significant losses to agriculture, especially in areas such as Amritsar, Ludhiana, Kapurthala, and Hoshiarpur.
The damage to infrastructure is also significant. There are reports of loss of power to lakhs of people and hospitals are struggling to cope with the increasing number of patients.
There has been a massive disruption to normal life in Punjab as a result of the floods. Schools have been closed and transport has become very difficult. There are also reports of looting and vandalism in many parts of the state.
More than One Million Affected
As the monsoon season reaches its peak, Punjab is facing its worst flood situation in a decade. Heavy rains have caused widespread flooding in the state, which has affected over 1.24 lakh villages and 3 crore hectares of land, according to reports.
The rains have also triggered landslides that have claimed the lives of 27 people and left many others stranded. The Prime Minister’s Office has announced a relief of Rs. 5,000 crores for relief and rehabilitation work in Punjab.
The Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has appealed to the people of the state to extend help to those affected by the floods. He has also asked for all private hospitals in the state to open their doors for free treatment of those affected by the floods. He said the Punjab government is working closely with the local civic bodies and other institutions to address the issue.
He has also ordered an immediate release of Rs. 9 lakhs from his contingency fund for relief work in flood-affected areas.
Losses Estimated at Rs. 10 crore
The flooding in Punjab, India has affected more than one million people and caused significant losses. The BBC reports that the estimated losses from the flooding so far stand at Rs. 10 crores (US$1.6 million).
The flooding is due to heavy rains that have caused the rivers to overflow their banks. According to the Press Trust of India, rain in Punjab has been intense for the past three days.
However, this rainfall is likely to cause further damage in the coming weeks and months.
