Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan plunged into the heart of Punjab’s flood-ravaged regions, visiting inundated areas in Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts to meet affected farmers and residents. In a striking display of solidarity, Chouhan, accompanied by senior BJP leaders including Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, and national general secretary Tarun Chugh, rode a tractor and waded through knee-deep floodwaters to inspect damaged paddy fields, underscoring the severity of the crisis gripping the state.

Upon arriving at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar, Chouhan was briefed by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, who submitted a detailed report on the flood situation across Amritsar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, and Ferozepur districts. The governor highlighted the extensive damage to crops, infrastructure, and livelihoods, with ongoing relief efforts involving the Punjab government, Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and other agencies. Chouhan, sent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, assured full Central government support, stating, “The Centre stands firmly with Punjab in this difficult hour.”

In Ajnala, Amritsar, Chouhan interacted with farmers, assessing the devastation firsthand. In Gurdaspur’s Dharamkot Randhawa village, he observed silt from the Ravi River blanketing fields, threatening future crops. “The loss is visible; crops are completely damaged,” he noted, pledging comprehensive government assistance. Two Central teams, comprising officials from agriculture, rural development, roads, energy, finance, and Jal Shakti ministries, also arrived to evaluate the situation and prepare a detailed report for the Centre.

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Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal met Chouhan, submitting a memorandum requesting Rs 2,000 crore in immediate financial aid for flood-related losses in Ajnala and the release of Rs 60,000 crore in pending state funds. Punjab is battling one of its worst flood disasters in decades, driven by swollen rivers—Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi—and seasonal rivulets, exacerbated by heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab itself. The deluge has claimed 37 lives, affected over 3.55 lakh people, and destroyed crops across 1.75 lakh hectares.

Chouhan’s visit, marked by hands-on engagement and promises of swift relief, signals a robust response to Punjab’s plight. As the state grapples with this unprecedented crisis, the Central and state governments face mounting pressure to deliver effective rehabilitation and support to restore normalcy for affected communities.

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