Amritsar, Sept. 4 — Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday visited flood-ravaged areas of Punjab, becoming the first Union minister to tour the state since the disaster began. His visit came as Governor Gulab Chand Kataria submitted a detailed report to him on the devastation in the five border districts of Amritsar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur.
Kataria, who met Chouhan at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport in Amritsar, apprised him of the extensive loss of life, property, crops and infrastructure. The governor had toured all five affected districts between September 1 and 4 and also briefed the Union minister on relief and rehabilitation measures carried out by the state government, the Army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Punjab is facing one of its worst floods in four decades due to heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir that caused the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers, along with seasonal rivulets, to overflow. Additional downpours in Punjab have worsened the crisis. So far, 37 lives have been lost, more than 3.55 lakh people impacted, and crops over 1.75 lakh hectares — mainly paddy — submerged. The flooding has hit farmers especially hard, as the kharif crop was due for harvest in October.
Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian and Ajnala MLA and former state minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal also met Chouhan to brief him on the scale of the destruction.
Chouhan, accompanied by Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh Bittu, began his visit with Ghonewal village in Amritsar district, one of the worst affected areas, where he interacted with residents. He is also scheduled to visit Dharamkot Randhawa in Gurdaspur district, followed by Behrampur village and a meeting at the home of Baghel Singh, the Gurdaspur BJP district president.
Later in the day, Chouhan will travel to Begowal in Kapurthala district before returning to Amritsar to meet district officials at the PWD Rest House. A press conference is expected at the conclusion of his visit.
