New Delhi: Amid widespread flood devastation, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately announce a special relief package for Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, while accelerating ongoing relief and rescue operations.
The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said, “Modiji, floods have caused massive destruction in Punjab. The situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand is also extremely alarming.”
“In these difficult times, the central government’s attention and active support are crucial. Thousands of families are struggling to protect their homes, lives, and loved ones,” Gandhi said in a Hindi post on X.
He called for an immediate special relief package for the affected states, with particular focus on farmers, and urged faster relief and rescue operations. Gandhi also shared a video message reiterating his demand, stating, “It is heartbreaking to see people fighting to save their families. Modi Ji, it is the government’s responsibility to protect citizens. Immediately prepare a special relief package for these people.”
Relentless rains have compounded the suffering in North India, which has faced repeated cloudbursts and floods over recent weeks. Swollen rivers have inundated plains, disrupted rail and road traffic, and forced school closures.
Punjab, grappling with its worst floods since 1988, remains in a precarious state as the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers, along with seasonal rivulets, continue to swell due to heavy upstream rainfall. Twelve districts have been affected, with 29 lives lost and over 2.56 lakh people impacted.
In the Himalayan region, Uttarakhand experienced another day of heavy rain on Tuesday, while Himachal Pradesh saw two women killed due to landslides and flash floods. Over 1,000 roads were closed, and an orange alert warning of heavy rainfall has been issued for Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur, and Kinnaur districts.
In Shimla, all government and private educational institutions, including coaching and nursing centres, have been ordered to remain shut. Continuous rainfall over the past few days has raised the risk of landslides at multiple locations.
