Punjab reels under worst floods in decades; 150 villages submerged, crops ravaged

Chandigarh: Punjab is battling one of its worst floods in 37 years, with vast tracts of farmland, villages and security posts under water. Heavy discharge from Ranjit Sagar and Pong dams have left at least seven districts badly affected, submerging nearly 150 villages along the state’s border belt.

Officials estimate that around 1.5 lakh acres of standing crops mainly paddy, sugarcane and maize are underwater. Farmers’ houses and cattle sheds have been destroyed, while livestock remain stranded in waist-deep waters. In several areas, water levels range between 5 and 10 feet, leaving communities cut off from relief operations.

In Tarn Taran district, even Border Security Force (BSF) outposts have been inundated, with about 360 personnel trapped. More than 50 border villages have yet to receive relief supplies due to blocked access routes.

Residents compared the calamity to the devastating floods of 1988, though many say the current deluge struck more suddenly. Unlike last year, when waterlogging submerged over 2.5 lakh acres of crops gradually, this year’s floodwaters rose rapidly after continuous dam releases.

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Update: Flood Relief Operations

The #IndianArmy in response to the massive floods in parts of Punjab, has deployed Army Aviation Helicopters for flood relief and rescue operations as part of its #HADR efforts . Displaying selfless commitment and extraordinary flying skills, the… pic.twitter.com/BhXbUB59UP

— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) August 28, 2025 >

The Meteorological Department has issued a flash red alert till September 2 for four districts, warning of further heavy downpours. Yellow and red alerts are also in place across Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Ropar, Mohali and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar. Officials cautioned that intense rainfall in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh both under weather alerts could further raise water levels downstream in Punjab.

Tragedy struck in Tarn Taran when two young brothers, aged 9 and 11, drowned in rain-filled pits near a brick kiln after taking horses for grazing. In Pathankot, the body of a young girl was recovered while three others remain missing. Rising rivers in Madhopur and Gurdaspur claimed at least three lives.

State authorities said all district administrations have been placed on high alert. Senior officials are inspecting flood-hit regions and rescue operations are underway, though access remains difficult in several pockets. “The government stands with the people in this crisis. Breaches in embankments will be investigated and accountability fixed,” a minister stated.

According to records, the 1988 floods inundated nearly 10% of Punjab’s landmass, affecting over 4,000 villages. In 2023, about 2.2 lakh hectares around 8% of the state’s area went underwater. Early assessments suggest that the current flood damage may surpass both events, though final figures will be clear only once waters recede.