Hundreds of troops and local volunteers are working round the clock to rescue people and provide food and medicines in the northern Indian state of Punjab, reeling under the worst flood in 40 years.
Over 300 villages are grappling with flood fury, particularly in Ropar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Kapurthala districts of the state, following incessant rain and release of excess water from the Bhakra Nangal dam.
While people in the cities have largely managed to escape nature's wrath, people in the low-lying villages have been worst affected by the deluge, which has displaced hundreds of people and damaged crops in thousands of acres of land across the agrarian state.
Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh conducted an aerial survey of the low-lying areas that have been worst hit and met state officials to discuss the crisis on Thursday.
Speaking to the media, Mr Singh said that he has approached the Prime Minister for financial aid and assured that even if no help came from the central government, the state government wouldn’t deter from providing relief to the affected people.
He added that his government would canalise all the rivers in the state with technical support from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to ensure Punjab never has to battle floods again.
At least 28 units of various factions of the Army are relentlessly spearheading rescue and relief operations and are carrying out work to plug the breaches in the state.
Over 5,000 people have been rescued from the marooned villages, while thousands continue to remain stranded in their houses, according to official reports.
UK-based philanthropist group ‘Khalsa Aid International’ has stepped-up efforts to reach out to people in remote villages.
The charity has claimed that it has released $260,000 towards relief efforts in the state, as per a post shared on their official Facebook page. It has also appealed to people to make donations to support the people of Punjab in trying times.
'Punjab needs your love and support'
Popular comedian Kapil Sharma who hails from Punjab, also took to social media to appeal to his fans to come out in support of the people of the state.
