PM Modi expected to visit flood-hit Punjab, J&K, Himachal and Uttarakhand to review situation

PTC News Desk: Prime Minister Modi will visit the flood-affeted stated in norther India to assess the ground situation  and review relief efforts, government sources said on Friday. However, no official date or schedule has been announced for PM Modi's visit yet.

The visit comes amid calls from some state governments for central assistance to tackle the ongoing flood crisis in North India. 

The visit takes place against the backdrop of demands from several state governments for central support to deal with the severe flood crisis in North India. In recent weeks, continuous heavy rains have triggered flash floods and landslides across Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand, leaving behind massive destruction. 

Since the monsoon began in June, these states have recorded over 500 deaths, making it one of the region’s worst weather disasters in decades. Just in the past two days, renewed landslides, flash floods, and collapsing infrastructure have claimed additional lives. Key highways remain blocked, rivers are flowing above danger levels, and vast tracts of farmland are submerged. 

Punjab, in particular, is facing one of its gravest flood situations in decades, with more than 1,900 villages in 23 districts under water. The state has reported at least 43 fatalities, while nearly 1.71 lakh hectares of crops have been destroyed.

In Hoshiarpur alone, the floods have damaged over 101 km of PWD link roads, 54 km of PWD plan roads, and 117 km of Mandi Board roads. Further, at least 141 primary and upper primary schools have suffered structural damage, affecting roofs, flooring, plaster, boundary walls, and toilets.