Union minister visits flood-hit Ajnala, assures govt support

Union Minister of State for Education and Development of North Eastern Region, Dr Sukanta Mazumdar, on Saturday visited flood-affected areas in Ajnala sub-division of Amritsar district and assured the farming community of the support of Central government.

Accompanied by Amritsar rural BJP president Amarpal Singh (Bony) Ajnala, the minister toured several worst-hit villages, including Talwandi Rai Dadu, Fatehwal, Granthgarh, Wadda Chak Dogra, Dinawali, Guzarpura Theh, Guzarpura and Surapur. On Friday, he had covered Jassar, Kuraliyan, Thoba, Malakpur and Harrar Kalan villages as part of his two-day visit to Amritsar.

Interacting with farmers and residents, Mazumdar said that Union ministers were visiting Punjab’s flood-hit regions to assess the ground realities. “I will also submit my report to the Prime Minister for further necessary action,” he assured.

The villagers recounted their plight, stating that the recent floods had destroyed standing crops, leaving fields buried under layers of sand and silt. Many said they had little hope of resowing in the coming season. Several houses had developed cracks in walls and foundations, rendering them unsafe.

The minister also inspected the Sakki Nullah (seasonal drain), which had overflowed during the floods. Speaking on the occasion, Amritsar rural BJP chief Amarpal Singh Bony said negligence in de-silting the Sakki Nullah for over a decade had contributed to the devastation.

Singh urged villagers to prepare and submit lists of affected families to officials conducting surveys so that relief packages could be extended without delay.