The BRICS TimesPunjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria assured people in flood-hit Hoshiarpur of every possible help, as he reviewed damage, met affected families, and appreciated ongoing relief work.
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Thursday described the ongoing disaster as among the most severe flood situations Punjab has faced in recent years. During his visit to flood-affected regions in Tanda, the Governor personally assured families that they would receive all necessary help and government support in this time of crisis.
Kataria began his tour at the Rara bridge, where he inspected the state of the ‘Dhussi bundh’ and engaged with local farmers to understand the difficulties they were facing on the ground. Moving forward, he reached a relief camp established at a government school in village Miani. Here, he interacted closely with the residents staying there and acknowledged the contributions of NGOs and volunteers involved in providing essential aid, extending his appreciation for their tireless service.
Authorities informed that currently five relief camps have been made operational across the district, with nearly 1,000 people taking shelter in them. Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain also briefed the Governor in detail on the prevailing flood situation and the administration’s ongoing response measures.
Speaking to reporters after his visit, Kataria emphasized that Punjab was enduring an exceptionally grave flood crisis. “Even in 2023 we had floods, but this time the situation is more severe. Due to heavy rainfall in the catchment areas, much more water had to be released not only from the Pong Dam but also from the Bhakra and Ranjit Sagar dams. Hoshiarpur has been badly affected due to Pong Dam releases. It was the compulsion of dam authorities to discharge water, but now there is a system of hourly alerts so that people can be forewarned and saved from sudden surges,” he said.
The Governor added that he had personally met families living in temporary shelters as well as in relief camps and reassured them of the state’s full backing. He noted that even households completely inundated by the floods were receiving support, ensuring that no one was left unattended.
Kataria highlighted the continuous efforts of local legislators and the district administration, stressing that they were working relentlessly to provide relief. He further stated that the Punjab government and the central government were operating in close coordination. “The Punjab government’s entire team is engaged day and night in rescue and relief work, while the Union agriculture minister and central teams are also visiting the affected areas,” he said.
He further assured that all compensation proposals submitted by the district administration would be recommended to the Union government for consideration and approval. On technical aspects, Kataria explained that intense water inflows often trigger soil erosion on both sides of the Beas river, worsening damage, while inadequate drainage slows the retreat of floodwaters from affected villages.
The Governor stressed the need for long-term protective measures and said concrete plans were being made to improve drainage infrastructure in vulnerable zones. He mentioned that a proposal would soon be placed for stone pitching near the Beas bridge to prevent future erosion of the Dhussi bundh. Additionally, he noted that families whose homes had been destroyed or severely damaged would be provided assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
Meanwhile, officials reported that the overall flood situation in Hoshiarpur district remained critical and unchanged since Tuesday. However, due to heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh’s catchment areas, the Pong Dam water level continued to rise on Thursday evening. The level was recorded at 1,394.68 feet, which is above the danger threshold of 1,390 feet, with inflows of 1,07,205 cusecs and an outflow of 99,673 cusecs being released into the Shah Canal barrage, they said.
Akshay Didwaniya
Mayur Mohta
Pratik Agrawal
