Administrative Officials Directed to Remain on Ground 24/7
Ministers Barinder Kumar Goyal and Lal Chand Kataruchak Visit Flood-Affected Pathankot and Gurdaspur
NDRF and Army Evacuate Around 70 People in Gurdaspur: Barinder Kumar Goyal
Rescue Operations Continue on War Footing with Helicopter Deployment
“No Effort Will Be Spared to Protect Lives and Property”
Chandigarh/Pathankot/Gurdaspur, August 26,
The Punjab Government has ordered local administration and relevant department officials to maintain a 24/7 presence in flood-affected areas to conduct rescue and relief operations on a war footing. All leaves for officers and staff in these regions have been canceled to ensure full commitment to the crisis response.
Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal and Food & Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak made this announcement during their visits to the flood-hit areas of Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts on Tuesday. The ministers conducted detailed assessments of the affected regions.
The current flooding stems from continuous heavy rainfall over the past two to three days in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, causing the Ranjit Sagar Dam to reach near-maximum capacity. The release of approximately 1,10,000 cusecs of water from the dam has significantly raised water levels in the Ravi River, while unprecedented flow in the Ujh and Jalalia rivers has submerged most villages in the Narot Jaimal Singh and Bamial blocks of Pathankot.
During the visit, Minister Goyal noted that heavy rainfall has pushed dam water levels to critical points, with the Ranjit Sagar Dam currently holding water at over 527 meters. This has led to dangerous water levels near village embankments, including Makhanpur, Pola, Taas, and Bahadurpur. In Village Taas, seven family members remain trapped, with rescue operations underway to ensure their safety. Community kitchens have been set up in schools at Taragarh and Narot Jaimal Singh, and rescue centers have been established in multiple locations, including Kiri Khurd, Kathlour, Taragarh, Narot Jaimal Singh, Kharkhra Thuthowal, Khojki Chak, Bamial, Nangal, Pathankot, Bani Lodhi, and Ferozepur Kalan.
The ministers emphasized that the government’s top priorities are protecting lives and property, minimizing damage, and delivering relief supplies. Helicopters are being deployed to evacuate people from waterlogged areas to safer locations. They urged citizens to avoid rumors and stay away from riverbanks for safety.
The ministers confirmed that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is closely monitoring relief efforts, with all Cabinet Ministers and state machinery in constant communication with him. The Chief Minister has announced appropriate compensation for flood-related damages, with a special girdawari planned to assess and distribute aid. Farmers were assured of compensation for crop losses caused by the floods.
In Gurdaspur, Minister Goyal visited villages along the Ravi River, traveling by tractor to reach Village Jhabkara, approximately 2.5 kilometers from Village Bahmani, where he interacted with residents and distributed rations. He reiterated the government’s commitment to sparing no effort in safeguarding lives and property.
Goyal noted that continuous rainfall in the plains and mountainous regions has filled dams to capacity, damaging several sections of the Ravi River’s Dhussi Bundhs. Around 15 villages in Gurdaspur’s Dinanagar tehsil have been affected, with district administration teams, alongside BSF, Indian Army, SDRF, and NDRF units, conducting rescue operations since morning. Approximately 70 individuals were safely evacuated from Village Jagochak Tanda. The government remains in contact with residents across the Ravi River near Makaura Pattan, ensuring all possible assistance.
Relief camps have been set up at Village Marara, Bahmani, Government Senior Secondary School Gahlari, and Gurdwara Sri Tahli Sahib, providing shelter and meals for displaced families. Goyal cautioned that additional water from mountainous regions could further elevate water levels and advised riverside communities to remain vigilant, follow district administration guidelines, and take necessary precautions.
