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Chandigarh, September 6 Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Saturday provided a grim overview of the state's unprecedented flood crisis, describing it as the worst in five decades. The relentless rainfall in Punjab and neighboring hilly states has triggered widespread devastation, affecting almost 2,000 villages across all districts. Over 4,00,000 citizens have been impacted, with 43 reported deaths in 14 districts. The agricultural sector, a cornerstone of the state's economy, has suffered extensively, with 1,72,000 hectares of farmland damaged in 18 districts. Additionally, infrastructure, homes, and livestock have sustained significant losses. The Ghaggar river's water level has also surpassed its danger mark of 750 feet. The Finance Minister said that the Punj...

Chandigarh, September 6: Punjab Public Works Minister S. Harbhajan Singh today reviewed the damage caused by the recent floods to infrastructure—roads, bridges, and public buildings—during a high-level meeting at the Punjab Roads and Bridges Development Board, Mohali. During the review meeting, Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh E.T.O. examined the estimated damage so far and the funds required for immediate repair work. He directed that damaged roads, especially in rural areas, should be repaired immediately to restore connectivity and speed up relief operations. He further instructed that in places where roads have been washed away due to floodwaters, serious consideration should be given to constructing causeways, pipes, or box culverts for proper water drainage in line with th...

Chandigarh, September 4 Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday called upon the Government of India to demonstrate the same humanitarian spirit towards Punjab as it has shown in extending aid to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. He questioned the Union Government's priorities, asking why relief materials were swiftly dispatched to Afghanistan, while flood-affected Punjab is facing delays in receiving financial and humanitarian assistance. In a press communiqué issued here, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema emphasised that Punjab, a state that has consistently contributed to the nation’s food security and economic strength, deserves timely and adequate assistance in its hour of need. “If humanitarian aid can be sent across border...

Chandigarh, September 3: In view of the heavy rainfall and prevailing flood situation in the state, the Armed Forces Preparatory Institutes situated in Mohali, all Skill Development Centres and C-PYTE Camps across Punjab will remain closed till September 7, 2025, informed Mr. Aman Arora, Minister of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training, Punjab. The Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has taken this decision as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and well-being of trainees, staff and stakeholders.The closure of these institutes will allow the authorities to focus on relief and rescue operations in the affected areas. Mr. Aman Arora urged all the stakeholders to cooperate and adhere to the guidelines issued by the local administratio...

CHANDIGARH, September 2: Spearheading the medical relief drive in flood affected areas of the state, Punjab Health and Family Welfare department has been adopted a multi-pronged strategy focused on rapid mobilisation, on-ground treatment and disease prevention to safeguard the health and well-being of citizens with a formidable force of 818 teams—comprising 458 Rapid Response Teams and 360 Mobile Medical Teams—fully equipped with essential medicines, informed Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh here on Tuesday. “Our goal is to ensure that no person is left without medical care, and we are delivering on that promise,” he said, while informing that daily medical camps are being held in affected areas and shelter homes to provide uninterrupted treatment. To date, 962 camp...

CHANDIGARH, September 2:           Continuing the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 185th day, Punjab Police conducted raids at 359 locations on Tuesday leading to the arrest of 95 drug smugglers after registration of 64 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 28,025 in 185 days.           The raids have resulted in recovery of 433 grams heroin, 29 kg poppy husk, 910 intoxicant tablets/capsules and Rs 3.5 lakh drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.       &nb...