Heavy rains have battered Punjab over the past few days, resulting in widespread flooding across the state. Thousands of acres of agricultural land have been damaged, and several houses have been washed away. Ludhiana recorded the highest rainfall at 216.70 mm on Monday, while other areas received significant rainfall, including Amritsar (24.1 mm), Patiala (80.4 mm), Pathankot (3.6 mm), Bathinda (3 mm), Faridkot (10.2 mm), Gurdaspur (2.7 mm), SBS Nagar (112.7 mm), Mohali (64 mm), Mansa (42 mm), and Rupnagar (82.5 mm).

The Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers, along with regional rivulets, have swollen due to continuous rainfall in their catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Over 1,000 villages across several districts, including Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, and Amritsar, have been severely affected.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF), and Border Security Force (BSF) are assisting local administration and the Punjab Police in rescue and relief operations. So far, over 11,000 people have been rescued from nine flood-hit districts, including Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, and Amritsar, according to Akashvani sources.

In response to the ongoing emergency, the Punjab government announced the closure of all colleges, universities, and polytechnic institutes until September 3, 2025. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains urged hostel authorities to ensure the safety of students and requested everyone to follow local authority guidelines strictly.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for several districts in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall. According to the IMD’s Nowcast, districts such as Patiala, Anandpur Sahib, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala, and Ludhiana are likely to experience further heavy rainfall.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to assess the situation. During these calls, the state leadership briefed him on ongoing rescue and relief efforts, and he assured all possible assistance. Meanwhile, Haryana has also received a rain alert for districts including Ambala and Panchkula.