Punjab floods Live Updates: Record floods in Punjab; Golden Temple Head Granthi in tears during 'ardas'
Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the extensive damage caused by the recent floods across Punjab. He stated that the state had suffered severe losses to lives, agriculture, and infrastructure due to the devastating floods.
Acknowledging the relentless efforts of the Army, NDRF, and state administration teams engaged in rescue and relief operations, Captain Amarinder Singh praised their commitment in handling the crisis.
He urged the Prime Minister to immediately announce a special relief package for Punjab, stressing that timely assistance is essential to prevent further hardship for affected families and farmers. He further pointed out that Punjab’s economy, already under strain, cannot withstand the scale of devastation without urgent central support.
Golden Temple’s Head Granthi, Giani Raghbir Singh, was moved to tears while witnessing the plight of flood-affected residents in Ajnala, the worst-hit area of Amritsar. The floods have completely destroyed crops in the region.
During his visit, Giani Raghbir Singh interacted with the local people and offered prayers for Sarbat da Bhala (the welfare of all). Overcome with emotion, he broke down while performing the Ardas.
Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar has written a letter to PM Modi and sought immediate assistance to mitigate the damage caused by severe natural disaster in Punjab.
"The floods have marooned large sections of Punjab’s population, displacing families and devastating livelihoods. Thousands of acres of crops—vital to both the state’s economy and the nation’s food supply—lie submerged and destroyed. While the Central Government’s support through the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and financial assistance is deeply appreciated, the scale of this calamity demands additional and urgent intervention," the letter read.
it further added, "Given Punjab’s strategic significance as a border state and its critical role in ensuring national food security, I humbly urge you to deploy Central assessment teams to evaluate the ground situation without delay. Furthermore, I respectfully request the announcement of a special relief package to address the immediate needs of the affected population and facilitate the state’s recovery."
'All Punjabis should support each other in this difficult time'
'No Punjabi should remain hungry or helpless'
'May every affected family get shelter and support'
'Punjabis should support each other with mutual love and brotherhood'
Several temporary embarkments of Beas river have broken due to additional water pressure. Over 50 villages of the district have been severely hit, while farmers fear complete destruction of their crops.
SAD Chief Sukhbir Singh Badal visited flood affected areas in Ferozepur and Fazilka to assess the situation. He also facilitated fodder for the cattle on the spot. Meanwhile, he also assured
As Punjab is battling with one of worst floods in decades, Haryana government has urged the Bhkra Beas Management Board and Punjab to reduce the release of of water towards its canals. The Haryana government in its letter said that the demand for the water supply has been reduced in view of the incessant rainfall. Read Here
Globally celebrated Punjabi singer Satinder Sartaj's foundation extended aid for the victims of flood affected areas and distributed rations for 500 families and other relief material in sub-division Ajnala. Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney directed her team of volunteers to deliver these materials to the needy.
Another Punjabi singer Jasbir Jassi and Raj Kundra, husband of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, too, have announced relief for the flood-affected area.
In a joint effort the Punjab Indian Army, Border Security Force (BSF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and civil administration have been deployed to carry out rescue operation in some of the worst affected areas by floods. 7896 people have been rescued so far and have been moved to safer places.
The railway on Friday stated that 47 trains to Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab will remain cancelled on Saturday due to the continuous rainfall.
Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal expressed her concerns over the deteriorating situation in Punjab due to floods and slammed the Punjab government over inefficiency in tackling the situation. She further said that the least this government can do is issue a helpline number.
SAD leader also urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to send NDRF teams for rescue operation and facilitate flood relief items.
Several villages of Ajnala constituency are among worst hit regions with people facing serious problems as their houses have been completely submerged and crops destroyed. The lives of people have come to a standstill.
After the Meteorological Department issued a four-day alert, Punjab Police have been put on high alert. They have been directed to remain fully prepared to deal with any emergency situation related to floods.
Punjab CM holds emergency meeting with Army, officials
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann held a high-level meeting with officials from the Irrigation Department, Disaster Management, Police, and the Army. During the meeting, he reviewed the situation in flood-affected areas and discussed strategies to ensure the safety and relief of people.
Roof collapse in Barnala leaves one dead
In Barnala’s Guru Nanakpura locality, a roof collapsed amid heavy rainfall on Friday morning. The incident claimed the life of Lakhwinder Singh, while his wife sustained serious injuries.
Sacred scriptures safeguarded in Hoshiarpur
In Hoshiarpur, the holy scripture of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was safely moved from a gurdwara in a village to a secure location. Meanwhile, in Amritsar, Gurdwara Sri Budha Sahib has been submerged due to rising waters.
Pakistan CM orders cleaning of Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara
In neighbouring Pakistan, Punjab province’s Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed officials to carry out cleaning operations at Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib, which has been affected by flooding.
Hussainiwala Retreat site submerged
The historic Hussainiwala border site in Ferozepur, where the daily retreat ceremony takes place, is under nearly five feet of water, disrupting regular activities at the venue.
Capacity of Pong Dam: 1390 feet
Current level: 1391.28 feet
Inflow: 72,214 cusecs
Outflow: 1,09,876 cusecs
According to the Meteorological Department, an orange alert has been issued in Punjab for heavy to very heavy rainfall on August 30. Meanwhile, a yellow alert has been issued for heavy rain on August 31 and September 1.
In view of the prevailing flood situation, the Retreat Ceremony for visitors at Hussainiwala has been temporarily suspended for the next few days. The Retreat Ceremony will be resumed as soon as conditions permit.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said never before has so much water been released into the Ravi as this time. He said he had received information that 14.11 lakh cusecs of water were released into the river. In comparison, during the devastating floods of 1988—the worst in Punjab’s history—11.20 lakh cusecs of water had flowed through the Ravi. This means the current flood has even broken the 1988 record.
The Kirti Kisan Union has submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioners, urging the Punjab Chief Minister not only to provide compensation for the losses caused by the floods but also to address several other related concerns. In view of the prevailing situation in Punjab, farmers continue to carry out relief work on the ground.
A major news has emerged from Faridkot amid the floods. At least 15 persons from Faridkot district, who had gone on the Mani Mahesh Yatra, have gone missing. Contact with their families has been lost.
Continuous heavy rainfall since last night has left Zirakpur and Dera Bassi waterlogged, with the Ghaggar River’s water level rising sharply. The Mubarakpur bridge has been completely submerged, cutting off movement in the area.
This morning, authorities opened the floodgates of Chandigarh’s Sukhna Lake, causing water levels in the Sukhna Choe to rise further. Meanwhile, at Baltana police post, water entered the premises, with levels reaching two to three feet.
Punjab’s flood situation worsened on Friday as over 350 villages across seven districts were submerged, forcing the Army to step in for large-scale rescue operations.
The most severely affected districts include Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Ferozepur, and Fazilka, where water levels rose to 5–7 feet in several areas, cutting off access to homes and farmlands.
The Army carried out extensive rescue efforts throughout the day, evacuating over 5,000 persons from inundated regions. Assistance was provided using Chinook helicopters and amphibian vehicles, ensuring that food, water, and medical supplies reached stranded families.
In one striking instance, a pregnant woman was safely rescued by a team using a boat.
In view of the ongoing flood situation in Jammu and Punjab, rail traffic on the Jammu route has been severely hit. On Friday, 38 trains were cancelled, causing major inconvenience to passengers.
Among the affected services are several important trains, including Vande Bharat Express (26406-05) and Shri Shakti Superfast Express (22462). In addition to complete cancellations, some trains have also been short-terminated or sent back midway, adding to the travel chaos.
According to the information received, the list of canceled trains includes:
Shalimar Express
Bhagat Ki Kothi–Jammu Tawi Express
Ajmer Junction–Jammu Tawi Pooja Express
Kanpur Central–Jammu Tawi Express
Nadeem–Jammu Tawi
Kolkata Terminal–Jammu Tawi (multiple services)
Howrah Junction–Jammu Tawi
New Delhi–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra
Amritsar–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra
Kalka–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra
Rishikesh–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra
Subedarganj–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra
Ghazipur City–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (two services)
Dr. Ambedkar Nagar–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra
Kanyakumari–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra
Jammu Tawi–Baroni Junction
The cancellations have left thousands of passengers stranded or forced to make alternate travel arrangements. Railway authorities have appealed to travellers to check train schedules before leaving for stations and are making efforts to provide updates regarding rescheduled or diverted services.
Heavy rainfall has triggered flooding in the Kiran Nullah in Gurdaspur district, causing widespread destruction in the region.
In one tragic incident, two youths who were on their way to provide assistance to flood-affected residents of Rahimabad village, under the Dera Baba Nanak Assembly segment, were swept away by the strong current on Thursday evening.
While one of them managed to survive with the help of locals, Vinay Kumar, a resident of Kalanaur, remains missing.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are currently carrying out search operations at the site to trace the missing youth.
Floodwater has entered several houses in Phase 11, Mohali, leaving residents distressed and struggling with daily life. The situation has caused severe inconvenience, as people remain surrounded by water inside their homes. To manage the crisis, the administration has deployed pumping machines to drain out the accumulated water.
The water level in the Ghaggar has crossed 70,000 cusecs this morning, raising serious flood concerns in the region. Due to increased rainfall in the river’s catchment area and the opening of Sukhna Lake floodgates, residents of villages situated along the riverbanks in the Derabassi subdivision have been advised to remain on high alert. The immediately vulnerable villages include: Tiwana, Khajoor Mandi, Sadhanpur, Sarseeni, Alamgir, Dangdhera, Mubarikpur, Mirpur and Bakarpur.
Authorities have urged people to take precautionary measures and follow safety advisories in view of the rising water levels.
The Amritsar Deputy Commissioner, along with a high-level team, reached Ramdas Friday morning to oversee ongoing flood rescue operations. Rescue teams have been actively engaged in evacuating stranded residents from flood-affected areas. However, for families unwilling to leave their homes despite being surrounded by water, the Red Cross Amritsar has been providing essential relief supplies, including drinking water and dry ration.
The authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, with both rescue and relief operations underway simultaneously to ensure maximum support for affected residents.
A high-level meeting on flood management will be held in Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
The meeting will be attended by Cabinet ministers and senior officials, where the Chief Minister will review the ground-level measures being taken to tackle the flood situation across the state.
Punjab floods Live Updates: Punjab is bracing for a critical spell of weather over the next three days, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing warnings across multiple districts. A yellow alert for rainfall has been issued in Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, and Rupnagar, while red alerts are in place for Mohali, Rupnagar, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, and Hoshiarpur, indicating the possibility of severe downpours.
Alongside Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir is under an orange alert until October 2, while Himachal Pradesh faces a yellow alert. Officials warn that heavy rains in these regions could directly impact Punjab, especially in terms of rising river and dam water levels.
On Thursday, Punjab witnessed no rainfall, which temporarily lowered water levels in the Ravi. However, flooding in Jammu & Kashmir has already disrupted train services passing through Punjab, with several trains being canceled.
Adding to concerns, water release from dams has worsened the situation in at least seven districts of Punjab. The Bhakra Dam is currently just eight feet below the danger mark, while floodgates at Sukhna Lake have been opened, raising fears of an increased water level in the Ghaggar River.
The authorities are on high alert, and residents in vulnerable areas are advised to remain cautious over the coming days.
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