The Punjab government extended school closures until September 3 and announced that all colleges, universities, and polytechnic institutes will also remain shut until then.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah urgently contacted Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday to assess the catastrophic flood situation gripping the state. Unrelenting rainfall has unleashed chaos, with swollen rivers like the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi submerging nearly 1,000 villages and affecting lakhs of residents.

Shah promised full central support for rescue and relief operations as the state battles its worst flood crisis in 25 years. Punjab recorded 253.7 mm of rainfall in August—74% above normal—triggering widespread devastation. Hardest-hit districts include Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, and Amritsar.

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Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains urged local authorities to ensure the safety of hostel students. Chief Minister Mann, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, described the floods as one of Punjab’s worst disasters in decades.

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