PM Modi to Visit Punjab, Himachal on Sep 9 to Review Monsoon Devastation

Chandigarh/Shimla, Sep 7 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Punjab and Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday 9th September to assess the destruction caused by heavy monsoon rains.

Himachal Pradesh estimates losses at Rs 3,959 crore and has requested the disaster be declared a national disaster. Punjab’s government has estimated flood-related losses at Rs 13,289 crore, impacting nearly 2,000 villages. The Prime Minister’s visit follows assessments by central government teams in both states.

Earlier, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was sent to evaluate the situation. “Two Central government teams, which visited to assess the damage caused by the floods in Punjab, are set to submit their reports to the central government after their tour. The Government of India stands firmly with the people of Punjab,” Jakhar wrote on X.

It has been learnt that the Prime Minister, after casting his vote in the September 9 vice-presidential election in Delhi, is likely to land at Amritsar on Tuesday afternoon, and there he will hold a review meeting with state ministers and officials. Later, he will visit the nearby hill state of Himachal Pradesh.

The Punjab government has estimated a loss of Rs 13,289 crore due to the floods. The figure was presented by the government to members of two Central inter-ministerial teams that have been touring the state to assess the damage.

Punjab Revenue Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian said 1,996 villages across 22 districts have been impacted, affecting a population of 387,013. A total of 22,854 people have been rescued. The highest number of evacuations has been carried out in Gurdaspur district (5,581), followed by Fazilka (4,202), Ferozepur (3,888), Amritsar (3,260), Hoshiarpur (1,616), Pathankot (1,139), and Kapurthala (1,428).

Meanwhile, two teams of the Union Home Ministry arrived in Himachal Pradesh to study the damage in Chamba and Kullu districts that faced severe devastation caused by incessant rainfall, which has claimed lives and caused extensive damage to infrastructure and agriculture.

Both teams will be on tour till September 10, and they will assess the damage and submit a report to the Home Ministry, a senior state government functionary told IANS.

The state government has pegged a loss of Rs 3,959 crore. Till now, the spells of rain have continued during the monsoon, and the figure of damage is increasing in all 12 districts of the state. The Indian Air Force was deployed for rescue operations of the Manimahesh Yatra to assist stranded pilgrims.