Union Agri Minister Shivraj Chouhan visits Amritsar, Gurdaspur

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday visited flood-hit areas in Punjab’s Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts, where he interacted with people, including farmers, affected by the deluge.

After riding a tractor, Chouhan also entered an inundated field in Gurdaspur and checked the paddy crop damaged by the floodwater.

Earlier in Amritsar, he stated that two central teams are also visiting Punjab to assess the situation arising out of floods and will submit a report to the Centre.

Chouhan was accompanied by senior BJP leaders including Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar and national general secretary Tarun Chugh, state BJP leader Subhash Sharma.

Interacting with reporters in Amritsar, Chouhan said Punjabis have always been at the forefront when it comes to serving the country and humanity.

“But today, Punjab is facing a difficult time due to floods and several villages are impacted, disrupting normal life. Fields are inundated,” he said.

The Centre fully stands with the people of Punjab in this difficult hour, he said.

“I have been sent to Punjab by the prime minister. We will take stock of the situation, talk to the people,” he added.

Chouhan initially reached flood-hit areas in Ajnala in Amritsar district and interacted with farmers. Interacting with a farmer in an inundated field, Chouhan took stock of the situation.

Later, he reached Dharamkot Randhawa village in Gurdaspur district. He was riding a tractor being driven by Punjab BJP chief Jakhar.

He then waded through more than knee-deep inundated field and checked the paddy crop.

“Loss is visible. The crop is completely damaged. Fields are inundated,” he said.

He further said the silt that the Ravi River brought has been deposited in fields, and there will be a crisis for the next crop.

However, he said the government would do everything for farmers and people.

Earlier, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria submitted a detailed flood report for five Punjab districts—Amritsar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur—to the Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar.

After visiting all five flood-affected districts from 1^st to 4^th September, 2025, the Governor apprised the Union Minister about the ground realities in these areas, highlighting the extensive damage caused to life, property, crops, and infrastructure due to the floods. He also briefed him about the ongoing relief and rehabilitation measures being carried out jointly by the Punjab Government, District Administration, Army, NDRF, and other organisations.

Chouhan held a brief meeting with Punjab BJP leaders including MP Ravneet Bittu, Tarun Chugh, Shwait Malik and AAP MLA Ajnala Kuldeep Dhaliwal before he began his tour of the flood affected areas. BJP Punjab President Sunil Jakhar accompanies Chouhan in the tour.

Later, Punjab Agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian and Dhaliwal met Chouhan and submitted a memorandum to him, seeking Rs 2,000 crore as financial assistance in the first phase for the losses caused by floods in the Ajnala assembly constituency.

They also demanded the release of the state’s “pending” Rs 60,000 crore from the Centre.

With inputs from PTI.