Punjab seeks special package for flood damages; Centre says it stands shoulder to shoulder with people of Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday (September 30, 2025) met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking a special package for the State in view of damage caused due to recent floods, even as Mr. Shah asserted the Centre is standing shoulder to shoulder with the people of Punjab.

Mr. Mann said the relief of ₹1,600 crore announced by the Centre was miniscule in the wake of the grave loss suffered by the State. The Chief Minister, who met Mr. Shah in New Delhi, apprised him that Punjab has faced one of its worst floods in decades, affecting more than 20 lakh people across 2,614 villages, with 6.87 lakh displaced.

The disaster has caused widespread losses as more than 4.8 lakh acres of crops were destroyed, around 17,000 houses damaged, over 2.5 lakh livestock affected, and major damage to 4,657 km of rural roads, 485 bridges, etc, he added. “The preliminary estimate of losses stands at ₹13,832 crores,” he said.

During the meeting, Mr. Mann was apprised that in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), State has sufficient funds to the tune of ₹12,589.59 crore, which can be utilised for the relief and immediate restoration to the affected people as per the government of India norms, according to a release issued by MHA.

“Out of the financial assistance of ₹1,600 crore announced by the Prime Minister, ₹805 crore (including ₹170 crore under sanction by NHAI) has already been released to the State government- intended beneficiaries under various schemes and the rest will be released on receipt of relevant information from the State,” it said.

It added, “Further, an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) was constituted on September 1, 2025, without waiting for the receipt of a memorandum from the Punjab. The Central Team visited the affected areas for on-the-spot assessment of damages in the State from September 3 to 6. However, the State government is yet to submit a detailed memorandum. After receipt of the memorandum, the same will be considered by the Central government as per the government of India approved norms.”