The state pegs the loss at Rs 13,289 crores.

PM Modi is likely to visit Punjab on Sept 9 to assess flood damage; the state pegs the loss at Rs 13,289 crores.

CHANDIGARH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Punjab on September 9 to take stock of the flood situation in the state through an aerial survey.
He will also visit the neighboring hill state of Himachal Pradesh. Meanwhile, the Punjab government has estimated a loss of Rs 13,289 crore due to the floods that have ravaged the state.

Sources said Modi will conduct an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas, including border districts. The official schedule has been finalized and shared with the state government.

Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar said the prime minister is deeply concerned about the flood situation in Punjab and is closely monitoring it. “He is visiting Punjab on September 9 to personally assess the local conditions and understand the ground realities in order to provide maximum assistance to the people of the state,” he said.

Jakhar added that two central government teams, which visited Punjab to assess the damage caused by the floods, are set to submit their reports to the Centre. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had earlier been sent to evaluate the situation.

The Prime Minister will conduct an aerial survey of flood-hit zones and land in Pathankot, where he is expected to hold a meeting with state government officials.

“As he will land at Kangra, and if weather permits, fly to Bharmour in Chamba district to take stock of the situation, or otherwise is expected to travel by road and then return to Kangra,” a state BJP leader said, adding that many pilgrims died in the Manimahesh Yatra.

Sources said Modi is also likely to stress the urgent need to strengthen embankments along the Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, and Ghaggar rivers, which have weakened over the years due to illegal mining and lack of maintenance.

Two central teams—one headed by Rajesh Gupta of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the other by Santosh Kumar Tiwari of the Ministry of Rural Development—visited Punjab on Saturday to assess the flood situation. They held a meeting with a state delegation headed by Chief Secretary K. A. P. Sinha, which included other administrative secretaries.

The state officials submitted a report to the central teams, noting that the estimated total loss due to the floods is around Rs 13,289 crore, based on figures provided by various districts. The teams visited the Ferozepur, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Kapurthala districts and also interacted with affected people.

A senior official, requesting anonymity, said the exact extent of the damage would be known only after the floodwaters recede, though both central teams had conducted ground assessments. They are expected to return for a fresh evaluation once the waters subside.

The state government has been demanding a special relief package from the Centre to compensate people for losses to property and farming and also for funds to repair damaged infrastructure, including roads, bridges, culverts, flood protection systems, and power transmission lines, sources said.

According to the report submitted to the central teams, the highest loss has been incurred in infrastructure and areas related to the Rural Development and Panchayat Department, amounting to Rs 5,043 crore. Crop damage has been estimated at Rs 1,858 crore, while losses to water supply are pegged at Rs 1,520 crore. The mandi board suffered losses worth Rs 1,022 crore, and the health sector about Rs 780 crore.

Rural infrastructure, including roads, village facilities, hospitals, and school buildings, has been severely damaged. Other departments have also reported losses: agriculture (Rs 317 crore), education (Rs 542 crore), power (Rs 103 crore), higher education (Rs 8 crore), food and civil supplies (Rs 6 crore), animal husbandry (Rs 7 crore, due to livestock deaths), and water supply (Rs 6 crore).

Officials said both central teams will soon submit their reports to the Union government. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has already submitted his report to the Prime Minister.

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