CM Saini flags off 25 relief trucks for flood-hit Punjab, Himachal

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday flagged off 25 trucks carrying relief material for flood-affected Punjab and Himachal Pradesh from the BJP state office, Panchkamal, in Panchkula. Of these, 15 trucks are bound for Punjab and 10 for Himachal.

Before the ceremony, the CM offered prayers at Mata Mansa Devi temple, seeking blessings for the relief initiative. He said the aid would ensure affected families in the neighbouring states did not face shortages of essentials during the ongoing crisis.

“Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have both witnessed extensive damage due to this natural calamity, with many villages affected and both people and livestock in distress. It is our responsibility to extend every possible help,” Saini said.

The CM added that alongside the government, the BJP had been dispatching consignments to the worst-hit areas daily. “Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National president JP Nadda, we are working with the spirit of ‘Seva hi Sangathan’ to provide relief to those in need,” he said.

Saini acknowledged that heavy rains and waterlogging had also affected parts of Haryana. He said relief priorities had been set and compensation was being processed through the e-Kshatipurti portal, where 1,69,738 farmers have so far registered 9,96,701 acres of land.

He also revealed that some families had lost members after house roofs collapsed during rainfall. “Families of the deceased have been provided with Rs 4 lakh each, along with aid for the injured,” he said.

The CM recounted that on the day floods hit Punjab, he had written to his counterpart offering immediate assistance. “Relief supplies continue to be sent from Haryana to Punjab, and today 15 more trucks carrying essentials have been dispatched,” he noted.

Himachal BJP president Rajeev Bindal thanked the Haryana CM for the timely support. He said the 10 trucks would be distributed among affected families in Chamba district. The consignment includes rice, flour, sugar, pulses, tarpaulins, blankets, bedding and other essentials.

The event was attended by former minister Aseem Goyal, Kalka MLA Shakti Rani Sharma, Panchkula Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal, former Vidhan Sabha Speaker Gian Chand Gupta, senior BJP leaders, and district officials, including Deputy Commissioner Monika Gupta and DCP Srishti Gupta.