PM Modi Sanctions Flood Relief for Punjab, Himachal Pradesh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced relief packages of ₹1,600 crore for Punjab and ₹1,500 crore for Himachal Pradesh, two states reeling under the impact of floods and landslides caused by unprecedented rains.
The Prime Minister conducted aerial surveys of the affected regions, visiting Kangra in Himachal Pradesh and Gurdaspur in Punjab to review the situation and assess damage.
A government statement said the aid would support multi-dimensional relief measures—including rebuilding homes under PM Awas Yojana, restoring highways, repairing schools, providing livestock kits, and disbursing relief through the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). Ex-gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured was also announced.
The government highlighted that Punjab already has ₹12,000 crore in its disaster management fund, urging the state to utilise it effectively.
In Himachal, damaged homes will be geotagged for accurate assessment and faster assistance, while in Punjab, a special project under PM Awas Yojana-Gramin will help rebuild rural homes destroyed by the floods.
Meanwhile, political parties in Punjab expressed dissatisfaction with the relief. Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal termed the aid package insufficient and demanded a one-time loan waiver for flood-affected farmers. He also criticised the Aam Aadmi Party government for failing to release funds despite having resources available.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring echoed the criticism, describing the package as “miserably meagre, a drop in the ocean” compared to the scale of devastation.
As Army relief operations intensified, the Prime Minister cancelled scheduled gatherings at his residence, underscoring the seriousness of the disaster response.
