Health Minister reviews flood rehabilitation efforts, promises timely compensation

Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh today visited flood-affected areas of Sultanpur Lodhi to review ongoing rehabilitation efforts and assured that the state government would soon release compensation to affected families.

During his visit to villages including Baupur, Sangra, and Muhammadabad, Dr Singh met with flood victims and highlighted the state's rapid response measures.

He informed residents that the Revenue Department is conducting detailed assessments of damaged crops and houses, while the Animal Husbandry Department is collecting data on livestock losses to ensure accurate and timely compensation.

The minister stated that compensation disbursements are expected to begin by Diwali, with the government increasing the rate per acre from Rs 6,800 to Rs 20,000 to support affected farmers.

Addressing public health concerns, Dr Singh emphasized that preventing disease outbreaks remains a priority. Special medical teams have been deployed to tackle skin and gastrointestinal illnesses, and counseling services are being provided to support the mental health of flood-impacted residents.

Dr Singh also thanked NGOs assisting with relief efforts and stressed the need to relocate residents from flood-prone villages to safer areas in the future. He instructed health officials to increase the number of medical camps to ensure timely healthcare access.

The visit was attended by SSP Gaurav Toora, Additional DC Varinderpal Singh Bajwa, SDM Alka Kalia and other officials.