PM Modi announces Rs 1,600 crore aid for flood-affected Punjab

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a financial assistance of Rs 1,600 crore for flood-hit Punjab as he reviewed the situation and damage caused by the deluge to the state.

Modi announced the assistance for the border state in addition to the Rs 12,000 crore already in the state's kitty.

The PM also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the seriously injured in the floods and natural calamity.

Earlier, he took stock of the flood situation and also conducted an aerial survey of the flood-ravaged areas in Punjab.

Modi, who was on a day-long visit to Punjab and neighbouring Himachal Pradesh to review the flood situation in the two states, landed in Gurdaspur -- one of the worst-affected districts in the state -- after conducting the aerial survey.

Prior to this, he visited Himachal and took stock of the flood and landslides situation in the state.

In Gurdaspur, Modi met flood-affected people as well as NDRF and SDRF teams.

Modi chaired an official meeting in Gurdaspur with officials and elected representatives and reviewed the relief and rehabilitation measures undertaken as well as assessed the damage that has occurred in Punjab.

Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Khuddian, Union Minister Ravneet Bittu and Revenue Minister Hardeep Mundian were also present in the meeting.

PM Modi announced a financial assistance of Rs 1,600 crore for Punjab in addition to the Rs 12,000 crore already in the state's kitty.

There will be advance release of the second instalment of SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.

The PM emphasised the need for a multi-dimensional approach to help the entire region and its people recover.

This would include measures such as rebuilding homes under the PM Awas Yojana, restoring national highways, reconstructing schools, providing relief through the PMNRF (PM National Relief Fund), and distributing mini kits for livestock.

The PM expressed condolences to the family members of those who have lost their lives in the natural calamity and stated that the Union Government will work closely with the state governments in this difficult time and extend all possible assistance.

He also met families from Punjab who were affected by the calamities and floods and expressed solidarity with all those who had suffered and expressed deep sorrow for those who had lost their close ones.

Punjab is currently facing one of its worst flood disasters in decades. The floods are a result of the swollen rivers -- the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi -- along with seasonal rivulets caused by heavy rainl in their catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Besides, heavy rains in recent days in Punjab also aggravated the flooding situation.

The death toll due to the devastating floods in Punjab stands at 51 while crops on 1.84 lakh hectares have been damaged.