Shimla/Gurdaspur, Sept 9 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced financial assistance packages worth ₹1,600 crore for Punjab and ₹1,500 crore for Himachal Pradesh after conducting aerial surveys of flood-hit regions in both states.
In Himachal Pradesh, which has been ravaged by floods, landslides and cloudbursts since June, Modi declared ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who lost their lives and ₹50,000 for the injured. He also approved the advance release of the second SDRF instalment and announced benefits under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi and PM Awas Yojana, along with funds for highway restoration and mini livestock kits. Special support will be provided to farmers without power connections, he said, while ordering geotagging of damaged houses and schools to expedite rehabilitation.
The announcement followed an aerial survey of the severely affected Mandi and Kullu districts, after which Modi reviewed the situation with state officials. “The Centre will extend all possible assistance to Himachal in this difficult time,” the Prime Minister said, praising the work of NDRF, SDRF and Aapda Mitra volunteers during relief operations.
According to official data, Himachal has reported 370 deaths, 41 missing persons and damages worth over ₹4,500 crore this monsoon season. The state has suffered 136 landslides, 95 flash floods and 45 cloudbursts, leaving 615 roads, four national highways, 1,748 transformers and 461 water schemes non-functional.
Later in the day, Modi travelled to Punjab, where he announced ₹1,600 crore in financial assistance for flood relief and rehabilitation. He also declared ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of those killed and ₹50,000 for the seriously injured. Emphasising a “multi-dimensional approach” to recovery, the Prime Minister said support will cover rebuilding homes under PM Awaas Yojana, restoring national highways, reconstructing schools, distributing livestock kits and providing additional relief for farmers.
Punjab has been battling its worst floods since 1988, with swollen Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers inundating farmland and villages after heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Thousands of families have been displaced, while crops and livestock have suffered extensive damage.
In Gurdaspur, Modi met flood victims in the presence of Punjab BJP leaders including state chief Sunil Jakhar, and chaired a review meeting with senior officials. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, meanwhile, has sought immediate release of ₹60,000 crore that he said is “stuck” with the Centre, terming the disaster a fiscal as well as humanitarian crisis.
Modi concluded his daylong tour in Kangra, where he was received by Himachal Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri and senior BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and state party chief Rajiv Bindal.
