Parallel SAD leaders visit flood-hit Sultanpur Lodhi

President of the parallel Shiromani Akali Dal, Giani Harpreet Singh, former Member of Parliament Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, ex-MLA Gurpratap Singh Wadala and Bibi Jagir Kaur visited flood-affected areas of Sultanpur Lodhi today to assess the damage and provide relief.

During their visit, essential supplies including flour, pulses, milk powder and medicines were distributed among residents suffering due to the floods. Addressing the public, President Giani Harpreet Singh urged the Centre to announce an immediate financial relief package for Punjab. He warned that farmers in the state would face massive economic losses and called on both the Centre and Punjab government to take responsibility and ensure adequate compensation.

Speaking to the media, Prof Chandumajra described the floods as not only a natural disaster but also a man-made catastrophe. He cited illegal mining by the sand mafia, mega infrastructure projects like Bharatmala and unplanned development as major factors obstructing the natural flow of rivers and exacerbating flooding.

Criticising the Punjab government, he pointed out that despite early warnings of heavy rainfall from the Meteorological Department, authorities failed to timely clean drains, rivers, and canals, nor did they manage the discharge of water from Pong, Ranjit Sagar, and Bhakra dams. The sudden release of water from these dams after heavy rainfall in hilly areas has caused widespread destruction across the state, for which he held the Punjab government directly responsible.