Punjab police bust gangsterterror module; five held with foreign links
CHANDIGARH: A gangster-terror module was busted by the Punjab Police with the arrest of five suspects. Seven such modules have been unearthed in the last three weeks. The arrested men were allegedly assigned target killings by handlers operating from Pakistan, Canada, and Europe. Sources said the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan, through its handlers, has been using YouTube videos to train recruits remotely on how to operate and detonate hand grenades. Police recovered these instructional videosdownloaded and shared via WhatsApp using virtual numbersfrom the mobile phones of the alleged suspects. The accused have been identified as Deepak, alias Deepu, and Ram Lal, who travelled from Rajasthan to coordinate and execute a terror attack in Ludhiana. The other three are Shamsher Singh from Ferozepur in Punjab, Harsh Ojha from Bihar, and Ajay from Haryana. Ludhiana Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma said the accused were specifically tasked by their Pakistan-based handler, Jasveer alias Choudhary, to carry out grenade attacks in the state. These Pakistan-based handlers are deliberately recruiting criminals from other states to commit terror acts in Punjab, as youths from Bihar, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra are being recruited to orchestrate grenade attacks in the state. We are in touch with the National Investigation Agency to unearth their foreign links, he said. Police officials privy to the investigation said that after Operation Sindoor, there has been a sharp rise in assigned target killings, with gangster-terror modules receiving hit lists, weapons, and logistical support from handlers abroad. There is credible evidence that the ISI of Pakistan is trying its best to disturb peace in the state, as it is pressurising its contacts among gangsters through foreign handlers to carry out target killings, said one official. There has also been a five-fold increase in weapons smuggling across the border. A total of 375 weaponsincluding AK-47 rifles, grenades, and improvised explosive deviceswere seized till October 31 this year, surpassing the total number recovered from 2021 to 2024, according to state police data. On November 1, four operatives of gangsters Gurdev Jassal and Gurlala alias Gullu were arrested in Gurdaspur, and five pistols were recovered from them. On November 10, the State Special Operation Cell arrested four members of a terror module who were in touch with a Portugal-based wanted gangster and were working under his directions. A day later, SSOC-Amritsar, in a joint operation with the Counter-Intelligence Wing, Pathankot, arrested two individuals working on behalf of a UK-based handler and recovered a sophisticated 9mm Glock pistol and five live cartridges. On November 12, the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in a joint operation with Mohali Police, arrested two operatives linked to foreign-based gangster Goldy Dhillon of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, who were planning to target a businessman. On November 13, police arrested two associates of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang and recovered two foreign-made .30-calibre pistols from Batala. The accused were tasked by gangster Amrit Dalaam, a member of the Bhagwanpuria gang, to carry out target killings, the police said. Then, on November 15, the Counter-Intelligence Wing in Amritsar busted an illegal weapons-smuggling module being operated from Madhya Pradesh, arresting one person and recovering nine pistols. Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the police have been able to bust most of the modules that had been assigned target killings. There have been desperate attempts from across the border to disturb peace in the state, but our agencies have been active and alert to meet any eventuality, he said.
Established under a strategic collaboration between Starbucks Coffee Company & Tata Starbucks, the FSP aims to empower 10,000 Indian coffee farmers by 2030 Starbucks will open its 500th coffeehouse in India this week in Delhi NCR a Starbucks Reserve location offering a premium and immersive coffee experience Reaffirming its long-term commitment to India, and its plans to deepen its coffee leadership in the market, Starbucks Coffee Company today announced the establishment of a Farmer Support Partnership (FSP). In collaboration with Tata Starbucks Private Limited, the FSP will connect local agronomists and farmers to global farming best practices through open-source agronomy. Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Starbucks re-affirm coffee leadership and announce a Farmer Support Partnership (FSP) to strengthen the coffee value chain from Bean to Cup Strengthening Indias coffee value chain from bean to cup Starbucks Coffee Trading Company, SARL (SCTC), Starbucks global procurement and trading subsidiary, will collaborate closely with Tata Starbucks to empower 10,000 farmers by 2030. The FSP based in Karnataka will combine Tata Starbucks deep local knowledge, Indias coffee-growing heritage, and decades of Starbucks global agronomy expertise. It will support farmers from Indias key coffee growing states including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala to strengthen connections with Starbucks global network, drive innovation, and share best practices in farming and sustainability to ensure a sustainable future for India coffee. The FSP will set up technical model farms in partnership with farmers in India, incorporating global learnings, to embed best practices in coffee agronomy and test sustainable solutions. The FSP in India will serve as a hub for testing new varietals, provide knowledge on innovative farming techniques aligned to Indian practices and conditions, and share insights about other agroforestry initiatives to improve coffee quality, productivity and climate resiliency. The goal is to build upon traditional methods to help farmers improve both the quality of their crops and their profitability. The FSP will work closely with existing centers of excellence within the Starbucks global network. This includes partnering with Farmer Support Centers (FSC) in coffee-growing regions around the world, where agronomists collaborate directly with farmers on research, and learning from existing model farms within Starbucks supply chain. This network includes FSCs in the APAC region in North Sumatra, Indonesia and Yunnan, China and Hacienda Alsacia in Costa Rica, Starbucks first company-operated coffee farm and headquarters to the Starbucks Costa Rica Farmer Support Center and Starbucks Global Research and Development team. Through the FSP, Indian farmers will also benefit from Starbucks 2026 global digital training tools, which will offer detailed online modules on agronomy, coffee quality, and C.A.F.E. (Coffee and Farmer Equity) practices to foster ethical sourcing and ultimately enhance productivity and sustainability. It will also educate farmers about Regen-Ag (regenerative agriculture) practices and methods to reduce carbon, water, and waste footprints, and contribute to agroforestry and social development initiatives. The FSP will develop projects across the key Starbucks commitments of unlocking coffee productivity, increasing farm profitability and building climate resiliency over the next 5 years. To build capability and strengthen Indias entire coffee value chain, Tata Starbucks will also donate one million high-yield variety Arabica seedlings to farmers over the next five years. During his visit to India this week, Brian Niccol, chairman and chief executive officer of Starbucks said, India is one of our fastest-growing markets. Were partnering with Tata to shape the future of coffee in India, including supporting farmers, empowering communities, and delivering the highest quality offerings to our customers. Its a long-term commitment to build a stronger, more sustainable coffee ecosystem that benefits everyone, from bean to cup . Sunil D'Souza, Managing Director & CEO at Tata Consumer Products said, Through the past decade, together, Tata Consumer Products and Starbucks, have helped shape Indias thriving coffee culture and industry. With this new initiative, we are pleased to pair Starbucks global agronomy expertise with Tatas footprint in India to drive tangible impact and pave the way for the future of responsible coffee farming in India . Re-affirming Starbucks coffee leadership through differentiated and elevated experiences Since its inception in 2012 as a joint venture between Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Consumer Products, Tata Starbucks has been dedicated to delivering the unique Starbucks Experience to customers in India. This has set the stage for Indias ever evolving and dynamic coffee culture. This week, Tata Starbucks will celebrate the opening of its 500th coffeehouse in India, marking a significant milestone in its growth journey and reaffirming its long-term commitment to the market. As one of Starbucks fastest-growing international markets, India remains central to the companys plans for strategic and sustainable expansion, with continued focus on job creation and meaningful development opportunities for its partners (employees). The 500th coffeehouse will be the second location to offer a Starbucks Reserve coffee experience in Delhi NCR, engaging coffee enthusiasts with an immersive experience that showcases Starbucks coffee craft, heritage, and storytelling. The coffeehouse and its Starbucks Reserve experience underscore Tata Starbucks commitment to elevating Indias coffee craftsmanship through elevated store design, handcrafted beverages, and locally inspired innovations. As part of the global strategy to make Starbucks a welcoming coffeehouse where people gather to enjoy the finest coffee handcrafted by skilled baristas, Tata Starbucks will continue to focus on creating a differentiated and elevated coffee forward experience in India. It invites customers to experience the full flavor profile it offers - serving the worlds finest coffee and elevated offerings in a welcoming coffeehouse environment that has made it a beloved part of Indias coffee landscape. Sushant Dash, chief executive officer of Tata Starbucks said, As the largest specialty coffee player in India, we are proud to bring the Farmer Support Partnership in collaboration with SCTC, a meaningful step toward strengthening Indias coffee-growing community and securing the future of high-quality Arabica. Our commitment to India extends beyond growth, to investing in farmers, partners (employees) and customers to continue building a vibrant coffee culture. We will continue to serve the finest Arabica coffee from India and around the world, brought to life through the warm, welcoming third place experience that defines Starbucks . About Starbucks Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with more than 40,000 stores worldwide, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at about.starbucks.com or starbucks.com . About Tata Starbucks Private Limited Starbucks entered the Indian market in October 2012 through a 50/50 Joint Venture with Tata Consumer Products Limited and currently operates more than 497 stores in India across 81 cities, Agra, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Alibaug, Amritsar, Anand, Aurangabad, Bangalore, Bhatinda, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Calicut, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Faridabad, Gandhinagar, Ghaziabad, Goa, Guntur, Gurgaon, Guwahati, Gwalior Haridwar, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Indore, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Jodhpur, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolhapur, Kolkata, Lonavala, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mangalore, Meerut, Mumbai, Mussoorie, Mysore, Nagpur, Nashik, New Delhi, Noida, Pathankot, Patiala, Pondicherry, Pune, Raipur, Siliguri, Sonipat, Surat, Thrissur, Trivandrum, Udaipur, Vadodara, Vapi, Varanasi, Vijayawada, Varanasi and Vizag are cities in India. through a network of over 4,437 passionate partners (employees). Starbucks stores are operated by the joint venture, Tata Starbucks Private Limited, and branded as Starbucks Coffee - A TATA Alliance.
Jammu/Pathankot/Chandigarh, Nov 20: The Nagar Kirtan commemorating the 350th Martyrdom Anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji received a heartfelt and spiritual welcome from the sangat in Jammu before proceeding towards Pathankot on Wednesday. Devotees walked barefoot alongside the procession during the late-night reception and todays onward journey. A special stopover was arranged at Gurdwara [] The post Guru Tegh Bahadur Jis Martyrdom Anniversay: Nagar Kirtan gets warm reception in Jammu, proceeds towards Pathankot appeared first on Northlines .
Mann, Kejriwal, Omar Abdullah Take Part In Sikh Religious Procession In Srinagar
Chandigarh, Nov 19: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday participated in a nagar kirtan (religious procession) in Srinagar as part of the commemorative events to mark 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur. The procession, which started from Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi in Srinagar, will reach Punjabs Sri Anandpur Sahib on November 22 after halting at Jammu on November 19, Pathankot on November 20 and [] The post Mann, Kejriwal, Omar Abdullah Take Part In Sikh Religious Procession In Srinagar appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Delhi blast: Ludhiana, Pathankot docs questioned, freed
Amid ongoing investigations into the Red Fort blast, law enforcement officials interrogated a surgeon hailing from Pathankot and a medical graduate from Ludhiana for their suspected ties to the case. After thorough questioning, both were released without charges.
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Cabinet has approved a new farmhouse policy for land parcels de-listed under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) in the environmentally sensitive Kandi region of the lower Shivalik Hills, stretching from SAS Nagar to Pathankot. The move aims to regularise authorised structures and is expected to rescue numerous influential individuals, including politicians and senior bureaucrats, who own properties in these areas. The policy establishes a standardised and transparent framework for the regularisation of existing structures and for permitting new low-impact residential units on de-listed lands. It stipulates a minimum plot size of 4,000 square yards and imposes strict controls such as a low Floor Area Ratio (FAR), limited site coverage, and a restriction to ground-plus-one construction. To ensure environmental protection, the policy mandates robust safeguards, including plantation of indigenous species, use of sustainable building materials, rainwater harvesting, and solar energy systems. A committee headed by Secretary, Housing, Vikas Garg, was constituted on the directions of Chief Secretary KAP Sinha to frame guidelines for regularisation of authorised structures. The biggest beneficiaries are expected to be those who own land or have already constructed farmhouses in the periphery of Chandigarh. According to sources, the government was under pressure from a powerful lobby, as many VIPs had already built farmhouses on de-listed land and were facing demolition notices for violating housing norms. Forest department sources noted that the policy had faced hurdles due to the Periphery Act, the proposed Sukhna eco-sensitive zone, and Supreme Court guidelines governing land use in areas removed from PLPA protection. The Eco-Tourism Development Committee reportedly rejected around 90 regularisation applications, stating that the existing structures violated guidelines. Forest officials maintain that Supreme Court directions must be upheld to protect forest and wildlife norms. Other decisions The Cabinet also approved a policy, modelled on that of the Department of Industry and Commerce, for fragmentation or subdivision of industrial plots under the Housing and Urban Development Department. This aims to bring parity between the two departments. Subdivision of industrial plots into two or more units will be permitted, provided no sub-plot measures less than 500 square yards. Approval was also given to launch the Navi Dishaa scheme to address menstrual hygiene and provide free sanitary napkins to adolescent girls and vulnerable women. The initiative will emphasise awareness, education, behavioural change, and distribution of free sanitary napkins to women aged 1544, especially school dropouts, BPL households, slum dwellers, itinerant communities, and homeless women. The Cabinet further granted approval to summon the 10th (Special) Session of the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha at Anandpur Sahib on 24 November, as part of events commemorating the 350th martyrdom day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur. The session will be held at Bhai Jaita Ji. In another significant decision, the Cabinet enhanced the retirement age for administrative posts filled through promotion from the Medical Teaching Faculty in the Department of Medical Education and Research (MER) from 62 to 65 years. The move aligns Punjab with Haryana, Chandigarh (UT), and Union Government institutions, and is expected to improve faculty retention and institutional stability amid expanding medical colleges. The government also approved the creation of a separate cadre for postings in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). Many Punjab quota posts have remained vacant, leading the Board to fill them with its own staff. The Cabinet has sanctioned 2,458 posts across various departments and approved relevant service rules. Additionally, approval has been granted to recruit 311 nurses in the Health and Family Welfare Department. This measure underscores the states commitment to strengthening public healthcare infrastructure. Recruitment of more than 400 additional nurses is under way, with all new staff expected to join by the first week of December. The government has already completed the recruitment of 800 doctors through a transparent process to meet rising healthcare demands. Over 175 specialist doctors have been appointed in key disciplines, including paediatrics, medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, and surgery. Taken together, these efforts constitute one of Punjabs largest recent healthcare recruitment drives, aimed at ensuring timely, accessible, and high-quality health services for all.
Delhi blast case: 45-year-old surgeon detained from Pathankot for questioning
On Monday, agencies busted a white collar terror module with links to terrorist outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind and spread across Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. They seized 2,900 kilograms of explosive substances and arrested eight people, including three doctors linked to Al Falah University.
Red Fort Blast Probe: Another Doctor Who Worked At Al-Falah University Detained
Police detained a White Medical College professor from Pathankot over possible links to the Delhi Red Fort blast.
Delhi blast probe intensifies: Another doctor from Al-Falah University detained in Pathankot
A doctor in Pathankot is being questioned by authorities regarding the Delhi blast case. Investigators reportedly found he had phone contact with one of the individuals implicated in the incident. While not officially arrested, the doctor was taken in for inquiries, with a local politician confirming his family remains at home. The reason for his involvement is still under investigation.
Masood Azhar: Mumbai, Parliament, Pathankot, Pulwama Attacks...Now Delhi
The blast that ripped through the heart of Delhi on November 10 has renewed focus on Masood Azhar, one of the most prominent terror faces from across the border.
Western Commander reviews preparedness in Jmu-Pathankot sector
Jammu Tawi, Nov 7 : Armys Western Commander Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar on Friday reviewed the operational preparedness of troops deployed in forward areas along the Jammu-Pathankot sector, officials said. The review by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief comes as the troops prepare for the winter months to effectively counter threats posed by terrorists operating [] The post Western Commander reviews preparedness in Jmu-Pathankot sector appeared first on Northlines .
Armys Western Commander Reviews Preparedness In Jammu-Pathankot Sector
Jammu, Nov 7: Armys Western Commander Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar on Friday reviewed the operational preparedness of troops deployed in forward areas along the Jammu-Pathankot sector, officials said. The review by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief comes as the troops prepare for the winter months to effectively counter threats posed by terrorists operating in the higher reaches and forest belts in the Jammu sector. Lt Gen Katiyar reviewed the operational preparedness of troops deployed in forward areas of Jammu, Kathua, [] The post Armys Western Commander Reviews Preparedness In Jammu-Pathankot Sector appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Punjab: 122 stubble burning cases recorded on October 26; highest single day spike this season
CHANDIGARH: Punjab recorded 122 new cases of stubble burning, marking the highest single-day spike this year. This takes the total count this season to 743. This is the first time in 2025 that the state recorded farm fire incidents in three digits. Approximately 58 per cent of the total 31.7 lakh hectares of paddy have been harvested across the state till now. In the coming days, crop residue might increase as farmers harvesting the crop after November 2 will have a limited window to sow wheat. As per the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) data, Tarn Taran and Amritsar districts contributed the bulk of cases, as many farmers continued to disregard the state government's appeal to stop crop residue burning. Of the 122 crop residue incidents, nearly 70 were reported from the south Malwa region. The highest farm fire incidents were reported from Tarn Taran at 224, followed by Amritsar 154, Ferozepur 80, Sangrur 47, Patiala 39, Gurdaspur 38, Kapurthala 29, Mansa, Moga and Ludhiana 8 respectively, Barnala 6, Maelrkotla 4, Hoshiarpur 3 and SBS Nagar 2. Meanwhile, Pathankot and Rupnagar districts have not reported any stubble-burning incidents so far. The state has seen a sharp jump in stubble-burning cases in the past week, from 353 cases recorded till October 20 to 390, the data showed. This comes even as data from the Centres Decision Support System (DSS) showed the estimated contribution of stubble burning to Delhis pollution touched a season-high of 3.71 per cent on Sunday. Farm fires can contribute up to 35 per cent of Delhis total PM 2.5 levels when stubble burning touches its peak, usually in the first week of November. 241 stubble burning cases in Punjab from September 15 to October 18: Data Agriculture scientists have cautioned that farmers are more likely to resort to burning crop residue to prepare fields quickly as the time window of wheat sowing is shrinking. According to the Punjab Agricultural University, wheat sowing must ideally be completed by November 15 to ensure optimal yield. Till now, only 58 percent of the total 31.7 lakh hectares under paddy has been harvested, while farmers harvesting after November 1 will have a very limited window to sow wheat, which may lead to a surge in stubble burning in the coming days, said an official of the Punjab agriculture department. Meanwhile, paddy harvesting in Amritsar and Tarn Taran has touched the 85 per cent mark, but in Muktsar, Ferozepur, Barnala, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Mansa and Ferozepur districts, known for high-yield paddy cultivation, which contributes the most to stubble burning, is still below 50 per cent mark. Punjab Police have so far registered 266 FIRs against farmers for violating stubble-burning norms. Of these, 73 FIRs have been lodged in Tarn Taran alone, the district reporting the highest number of farm fire incidents. The farmers have been booked under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant. Fines amounting to Rs 16.80 lakh have been imposed as environmental compensation in 329 cases, of which Rs 12 lakh has been collected. Also, 296 red entries have been marked, including 108 in Tarn Taran and 68 in Amritsar, in the land records of farmers who burnt crop residues. A red entry bars the farmers from getting loans against their farmland or selling it. The total area under paddy cultivation in Punjab this year is 31.72 lakh hectares. Till October 26, 56.50 per cent of this area had been harvested. Punjab saw 10,909 farm fires in 2024 as compared to 36,663 in 2023, marking a 70 per cent drop. The state recorded 49,922 farm fire events in 2022, 71,304 in 2021, 76,590 in 2020, 55,210 in 2019 and 50,590 in 2018, with many districts, including Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda and Amritsar, reporting a large number of stubble-burning incidents.
Automatic Ticket Vending Machines Installed at 5 Major Railway Stations in Jammu Division
JAMMU, Oct 22: To enhance passenger convenience during the festive season, Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) have been installed at five key railway stations in the Jammu division, officials said on Wednesday. The machines are now operational at Pathankot Cantonment, Pathankot City, Jammu, Shahid Captain Tushar Mahajan (Udhampur), and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra stations. [] The post Automatic Ticket Vending Machines Installed at 5 Major Railway Stations in Jammu Division appeared first on Northlines .
6 Nabbed For Robbing Construction Site In Jammu, Thrashing Guards, Workers
Jammu, Oct 15: Six people were arrested for allegedly attacking guards and workers at a construction site in Samba and robbing types of building material, police on Wednesday said. A complaint in the matter was filed on Monday by Sudhir, a representative of Shivalaya Construction Limited, they said. According to the complaint, on the night of October 12-13, an around dozen-strong mob attacked the companys site in Sarore village along the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway. The mob stormed the site around [] The post 6 Nabbed For Robbing Construction Site In Jammu, Thrashing Guards, Workers appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Infant found abandoned near railway track, condition stable
Jammu Tawi, Oct 1 : A two-and-a-half-month-old boy was found abandoned near a railway track in Kathua district on Wednesday, police said. The infant was found abandoned near the Jammu-Pathankot railway track at Hatli in the district, following which police shifted him to a hospital where doctors declared his condition as stable, they said. Police [] The post Infant found abandoned near railway track, condition stable appeared first on Northlines .
Punjab: CM Bhagwant Mann steps up demand for flood relief package
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Assembly on Monday passed a resolution accusing the Centre of not responding adequately to the states flood crisis and demanded a special financial package of Rs 20,000 crore for compensation and rehabilitation. The resolution said Punjab had been ravaged by catastrophic floods, widely regarded as the worst and most destructive deluge since the 1988 floods, affecting over 20 lakh people, destroying crops on nearly five lakh acres, causing heavy livestock losses, and damaging both private and public property. It also criticised the Prime Ministers Office for not responding to Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns repeated requests for a meeting, thereby insulting the people of the state and preventing the state from making a proper and comprehensive representation of the full scale of the disaster. The resolution demanded the immediate transfer of the Rs 1,600-crore relief announced by the Prime Minister during his visit. Mann, however, said he has been given time to meet Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday. Mann announced compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre for 75100% crop loss, Rs 10,000 per acre for 2675% damage, and Rs 1.20 lakh for fully damaged houses. Farmers will receive Rs 7,200 per acre for removing sand deposited by floods and Rs 47,500 per hectare for land that was washed away. A special girdawari is underway, and compensation will start reaching families before Diwali. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa cited letters from the Water Resources Department showing that critical flood mitigation works in districts including Anandpur Sahib, Ropar, SAS Nagar, Patiala, Pathankot, and Ferozepur had not begun. Bajwa said, If everything was completed by July 14, why did urgent instructions go out two weeks later?
Northern Railway To Resume 8 Long-Distance Trains From Jammu Starting October 2
Jammu, Sep 29: The Northern Railway on Monday ordered the resumption of eight long-distance trains from Jammu station starting October 2, after ensuring the safety and continuity of tracks damaged by heavy rains and floods in August this year. Heavy rainfall in the JammuPathankot and JammuKatra sections had severely affected rail services in the division, with tracks and bridges bearing the brunt of the floods. More than 50 trains were suspended, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at the Jammu railway [] The post Northern Railway To Resume 8 Long-Distance Trains From Jammu Starting October 2 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Punjab Police on high alert after intel on ISI threats to disrupt peace
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Police has enhanced security measures in all districts, particularly along the Indo-Pak border, after receiving intelligence inputs indicating attempts to disturb peace in the region. After chairing a high-level Law and Order Review Meeting at Amritsar, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said, There are specific intelligence inputs suggesting that after Operation Sindoor, Pakistans ISI is desperately trying to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in Punjab. To counter this, we have deployed 57 additional companies, including seven from the Border Security Force (BSF) across seven border districts. Officers of Commissionerate Police Amritsar and Border Range, including Amritsar Rural Police, Batala Police, Gurdaspur Police, Pathankot Police and Tarn Taran Police, took part in the high-level meeting. Yadav said that due to recent floods, there was a surge in cross-border smuggling activities, with narcotics and arms being pushed from Pakistan into Punjab. The police, in coordination with the BSF, have foiled several trafficking attempts in recent weeks. In the latest trend, Pakistan-based anti-national elements are pushing small weapons along with contraband. Around 78 pistols have been recovered in the recent past, he said. He also highlighted the success of the state police in dismantling around 26 terror modules over the past few months, resulting in the arrest of 88 operatives linked to these networks. Yadav directed all field units to maintain a high level of vigilance, intensify visible policing and ensure seamless coordination to provide citizens with a safe and secure festive environment. He also reviewed ongoing counter-terrorism strategies, dismantling of organised crime networks and emerging law and order challenges across the region and laid special emphasis on proactive policing and intelligence coordination ahead of the upcoming festive season. The officers shared updates on operational preparedness, joint action plans and community engagement measures. The meeting was attended by Additional DGPs of Anti Gangster Task Force and Counter Intelligence besides Amritsar Police Commissioner, DIG Border Range, SSPs of Amritsar (Rural), Taran Taran, Gurdaspur, Batala and Pathankot.
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Assembly today unanimously passed a resolution seeking a comprehensive special package of Rs 20,000 crore from the Union government for compensation to farmers, rebuilding infrastructure, and restoring livelihoods in flood-affected areas. The assembly also condemned the 'lack of response and the failure' of the BJP-led union government to sanction a special financial package for the flood-hit Punjab. The resolution also condemned the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) for not responding to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns repeated request for a meeting, thereby 'insulting' the people of the state, and preventing the state from making a proper and comprehensive representation of the full scale of the disaster. Additionally, it demanded the immediate transfer of Rs 1,600 crore relief announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Punjab. The resolution, which was moved on Friday, was passed after the completion of the discussion on the rehabilitation of the state. The two BJP MLAs were not present in the House when the resolution was passed. As per the resolution, Punjab has been ravaged by catastrophic floods, widely regarded as the worst and most destructive deluge since the 1988 floods, which historically impacted more than 34 lakh people. The current disaster has surpassed previous major floods in independent India, such as those in 1955 and 1978, in terms of sheer scale and devastation, causing loss to more than 20 lakh people in many ways, destroying crops on nearly five lakh acres, numerous losses to livestock, and irreparable damage to both private and public infrastructure, read the resolution. Winding up the discussion in the House on the concluding day of the session, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said a compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre for 75 to 100 per cent damage of crops due to the recent floods will be given. He said Rs 10,000 per acre will be given for 33 to 75 per cent and 26 to 33 per cent of crop damage. He added that a compensation of Rs 1.20 lakh will be given for complete damage of houses. Mann said a special 'girdawari' for assessment of losses is underway and added that flood-hit families will start getting compensation before the Diwali festival. Farmers will be given Rs 7,200 per acre for extracting sand, which has accumulated following the floods, from their fields. A sum of Rs 47,500 per hectare will be given to farmers whose farmland was washed away by rivers. He slammed the Centre for allegedly not giving him time to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a representation of the disaster. He also took a swipe at the Centre, saying the PM gave time to meet the Punjab governor. Mann, however, said he has been given time to meet Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday. The resolution stated, This House categorically condemns the lack of response and the failure of the BJP-led Union government to sanction a special financial package commensurate with the scale of the worst floods faced by Punjab in decades. Records its strong protest against the BJP led Union governments apathy that has resulted in the non-disbursement of the announced token funds, thereby critically crippling the speed of the state governments ongoing relief and rehabilitation operations, said the resolution. Earlier in the day, the House was adjourned following a heated exchange between Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and Finance Minister Harpal Cheema. Cheema alleged that while Bajwa blamed the government for failing to provide relief, he himself was promoting self-interest through land deals at the expense of others. In a statement, Bajwa accused the government of misleading the House and the people of Punjab on crucial flood preparedness measures. He specifically called out AAP minister Barinder Goyal, who had earlier claimed in the assembly that all preparations for flood mitigation had been completed by July 14. The facts prove otherwise, Bajwa said. He revealed that on July 22, 2025, the Chief Engineer (Vigilance) of the Water Resources Department wrote to the Chief Engineer (Drainage) directing him to start reviewing the necessity of flood protection works a process which had not even commenced at the site despite two-thirds of the monsoon season already having passed. Bajwa alleged that Executive Engineers from several districts themselves admitted that no flood mitigation or drainage repair works had started in critical areas, including Shri Anandpur Sahib, Ropar, SAS Nagar, Patiala, Pathankot, and Ferozepur. These facts clearly expose the lies of Barinder Goyal and highlight the governments negligence, he added. Bajwa also pointed to letters sent by the Water Resources Department in late July as proof of the administrations unpreparedness. The Principal Secretary of the department had written to all Deputy Commissioners on July 28, directing them to procure EC bags and Geo bags for flood protection, while a separate letter on July 27 instructed the Chief Engineer to arrange EC bags for Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts. If everything was completed by July 14 as claimed, why did these urgent instructions go out two weeks later? Bajwa asked. Responding sharply to allegations made by Cheema regarding his personal land purchase, Bajwa clarified that he had bought the land legally and paid the required stamp duty to the state government. If I have done anything illegal, I challenge Cheema to file a case against me, he asserted.
Government will continue ban on wheat & flour exports: Prahlad Joshi
NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Food and Consumer Affairs Prahlad Joshi on Wednesday declined the industrys request for permission to export wheat and flour, emphasising that domestic needs will be prioritised over exports. India has maintained a ban on wheat exports since 2022. During his address to the Roller Flour Miller Federation of India (RFMFI), he urged the industry to help in expanding wheat acreage and increase production to meet domestic requirements and buffer stock. Wheat production has not met expectations since 2022, hindering the countrys ability to achieve its procurement targets. The procurement levels reached 43.32 million metric tonnes (mmt) in 2021-22, but experienced a sharp decline due to adverse weather. According to government data, procurement came down to 18.78 mmt in 2022-23 and then rose to 26.58 mmt in 2023-24; 26.59 mmt in 2024-25, and 30.02 mmt in 2025-26 during the rabi marketing season. This year there are concerns regarding wheat production in Punjab Indias food bowl. The state is facing severe siltation of agricultural fields due to the worst flooding in four decades, which may adversely affect wheat sowing and production. Punjab received around 50% more rainfall than normal, according to the IMD data. In the 2024-25 procurement season, Punjab contributed 11.92 mmt, accounting for approximately 40% of the total central pool. According to the RFMFI, five major districts in Punjab Fazilka, Mansa, Amritsar, Ferozepur, and Gurdaspur may experience delays in sowing due to siltation. Such delays could disrupt the wheat trading ecosystem and negatively impact both quality and production. Siltation has affected large areas in these districts, said Navneet Chitlangia, president of RFMFI. It will delay sowing and impact grain flow in the market, Chitlangia added. The siltation has also affected areas like Kapurthala, Pathankot, and Hoshiarpur. Experts warn that the excessive siltation could make cultivating land difficult, resulting in substantial financial losses and long-term impacts on agricultural productivity. It may also lead to ongoing land degradation, making farming in affected areas more challenging and costly in the future. Additionally, the RFMFI has advised the government to increase procurement levels to stabilise market prices. The government needs to keep its stocks higher than usual. The current year-end stock stands at 7.5 mmt, which should be increased to 18 mmt, Chitlangia said. Millers body asks govt to increase procurement Additionally, the RFMFI has advised the government to increase procurement levels to stabilise market prices. The government needs to keep its stocks higher than usual. The current year-end stock stands at 7.5 mmt, which should be increased to 18 mmt, Chitlangia said.
CHANDIGARH: 220 villages of six districts -- Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Ferozepur and Fazilka of Punjab-- were submerged in the recent floods. Approximately 16,000 acres of land out of the total of 21,600 acres between the border fence on the Indian side and the zero line on the Indo-Pak international border are affected. The farmers whose land is beyond the fence have urged the Border Security Force (BSF) to allow them to desilt after the water recedes as at present, farmers are not allowed to do any kind of digging in their fields. The time span to sow the wheat is very short. They have also demanded that, while drafting the new Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) for farmers who till their land across the international border, the agricultural experts and farmers should also be consulted. Talking to TNIE , Surjit Singh Bhura, Vice President of Punjab Border Kisan Welfare Society, said that he met DG BSF Daljit Singh Chawdhary at Delhi and submitted a memorandum on behalf of the farmers. He gave a picture of how the state was badly affected by the floods. He said that the farmers in the six border districts have faced heavy losses and are facing difficulties in farming. He explained how the rise in water levels of the Ravi and Sutlej rivers caused floods and extensive damage. Large amounts of sand and silt accumulated in the fields of the farmer. Mounds and sandbanks have also been formed. Now the farmers have to remove feet of silt and sand from their fields. At present, the farmers are not allowed to use any kind of machinery in the fields across the fence due to security reasons by the BSF; they have only taken their tractor and trolley. We have requested the BSF officials that JCB and other machinery be allowed to remove the silt from their fields after the state government officer conducts the survey of their fields and permits them. As time is very short and we have to sow the next crop, he said and added that they have also requested that all gates should be opened at the BSF posts as usually only one or two are open. The company commanders should be authorised to take a decision in this regard on a case-by-case basis, as in routine they always say that they have informed the senior officers and are waiting a reply from them, he said. Bhura claimed that approximately 16,000 acres of land out of the total of 21,600 acres between the border fence on the Indian side and the zero line on the Indo-Pak international border in the six border districts is submerged due to the recent floods, and now water is receding, but they do not know how much more time it will take. Only a small pocket of land between Attari and Taran Taran was not affected due to floods, he said and added that the final figure will only emerge after the special gardawari is done by the state government. It was also demanded that farmers should be given permission to use an electric device to scare away the animals that come from the Pakistan side as they destroy their crops, as with its current setup, the animals cannot be killed, and it only gives a shock. Also, farmers should be allowed to use the 14-foot path to access their fields through BSF gates. Bhura claimed that he was given a patient hearing and assured of all possible help.
Crumbling Bridges, Missing Accountability
The damage to three vital bridges on the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway-the Ravi bridge at Lakhanpur, the Devak bridge near AIIMS Vijaypur, and the Sahar Khad bridge near Kalibari-marks yet another grim reminder of how fragile our infrastructure has become. Barely two years ago, commuters suffered the nightmare of the Tarnah bridge collapse near Dayala Chak. Now, with three more bridges incapacitated in a single rainy season, the pattern is too glaring to ignore: piers sinking, embankments displaced, and traffic thrown [] The post Crumbling Bridges, Missing Accountability appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
CHANDIGARH: The Union Government has declared the Punjab floods a disaster of 'severe nature'. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked the state government to send an assessment report of the damage caused by floods within three months. Meanwhile, the Punjab Government has suspended three officers who were posted at the Madhopur headworks, which is on the Ravi River. Two of the 54 gates of the Madhopur barrage on the Ravi River, downstream of the Ranjit Sagar Dam, gave way during the heavy rain on August 28, thus leading to flooding in Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts. Sources said that the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 16, intimated the state government the decision recognising the severity of the floods. It was said that in such conditions, financial aid is provided through the State Disaster Response Fund, supplementing it with funds from the National Disaster Response Fund after assessment based on the visit of an inter-ministerial team. Also, Union Ministers Jitendra Singh and Jitin Prasada had visited flood-hit areas in Pathankot and Gurdaspur to assess the damage. Punjab Chief Secretary, KAP Sinha, yesterday convened a meeting of heads of all departments and deputy commissioners to prepare a detailed assessment report. The decision would mean higher allocation of funds; exact details of the implications of the MHA order were being examined, said sources. CM Mann launches global fundraiser for Punjab flood relief and rehabilitation Sources said that Executive Engineer (XeN) Nitin Sood, a sub-divisional officer (SDO) Arun Kumar and Junior Engineer (JE) Sachin Thakur have been suspended by the Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department Krishan Kumar, as the orders to this effect have been issued. It was on the intervening night of August 26 and 27 that 2.12 lakh cusecs of water were released from the Ranjit Sagar Dam. The 54 floodgates at the barrage had been sealed after Operation Sindoor to stop the flow of water to Pakistan. All three officials were posted in the irrigation and groundwater division that takes care of the Madhopur headworks. The action against them comes after the principal secretary of water resources submitted his probe report to the chief secretary earlier this week. As the water came gushing down from the upstream reservoir of the Ranjit Sagar dam, the floodgates of the barrage were opened when two collapsed under pressure, aggravating floods in the areas downstream. The flooding caused widespread damage to villages and farmland in Punjab and areas across the border in Pakistan. Thus, two gates broke and the Indian Army had to rescue 50 personnel at the headworks who were stationed there to help open the floodgates. Also, a building near the floodgates had collapsed under the pressure of raging waters. The barrage, which is near Pathankot, was first built in the 19th century and rebuilt in 1959, regulates the flow of Ravi River. Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu has demanded the resignation of Punjabs Water Resources Minister Barinder Goyal, saying that merely suspending three officials was not enough. He asserted that both CM Mann and the minister should be held accountable for gross negligence in flood preparation before the onset of monsoons. Earlier, state irrigation and water resources minister Barinder Goyal had blamed a private company hired to certify the strength of the gates for the collapse. He had then said that the state government had hired a private firm to assess the strength of the structure. The company told the government that the gates were in perfect condition and would not suffer any damage even if 6.52 lakh cusecs of water were released, he had said.
Revival of Ujh project to benefit J&K, Punjab: Dr Jitendra
Excelsior Correspondent PATHANKOT, Sept 18: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that the revival of Ujh Multipurpose Project would benefit Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir in multiple ways. The project was first proposed nearly 100 years ago, he recalled. The Union Minister said, after its completion, the Ujh project would enhance utilisation of waters of Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutlej) allotted to India as per the Indus Water Treaty to address chronic water shortages and help curb [] The post Revival of Ujh project to benefit J&K, Punjab: Dr Jitendra appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Revival Of Ujh Project To Benefit Jammu And Kashmir, Punjab: Dr Jitendra
PATHANKOT, Sept 18 : Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that the revival of Ujh Multipurpose Project would benefit Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir in multiple ways. The project was first proposed nearly 100 years ago, he recalled. The Union Minister said, after its completion, the Ujh project would enhance utilisation of waters of Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutlej) allotted to India as per the Indus Water Treaty to address chronic water shortages and help curb cross-border [] The post Revival Of Ujh Project To Benefit Jammu And Kashmir, Punjab: Dr Jitendra appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Dr Jitendra Tours Flood Affected Punjab Villages, Issues On The Spot Instructions
PATHANKOT, Sept 17 : Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today visited several villages of Pathankot district in Punjab to assess the damage caused to the public infrastructure during the recent floods. Accompanied by administration team led by Deputy Commissioner Pathankot, Aditya Uppal and Superintendent of Police Dhillon, the Union Minister issued several on the spot instructions which were promptly followed up, to the great satisfaction and joy of local people. The Union Minister visited villages, namely Polla, Kohlian and the [] The post Dr Jitendra Tours Flood Affected Punjab Villages, Issues On The Spot Instructions appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Monsoon likely to completely withdraw from Punjab, Haryana and HP by September 25
CHANDIGARH: While the monsoon has started withdrawing from the country from September 14-15, it is expected to withdraw completely from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh by September 25. The rainfall was seven per cent above the long-period average (LPA) this year in the country. Notably, it was significantly above normal in the region too, as it also witnessed floods. From June 1 to September 16, Punjab received 618.0 mm of rain against the LPA of 413.3 mm for the aforementioned period, marking 50 per cent surplus of rain. Neighboring Himachal Pradesh received 1,010.9 mm against the LPA of 692.1 mm, with 46 per cent more rain. Haryana witnessed 565.1 mm against the LPA of 405.7 mm, marking 39 per cent surplus. A bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) today stated that the rains have receded from the southwestern parts of Punjab, comprising Fazilka, Muktsar, and Bathinda districts, and from the adjoining district of Sirsa in Haryana. The line of withdrawal of the southwest monsoon now passes through Bhatinda, Fatehabad, Pilani, Ajmer, Deesa and Bhuj, it added. Light to moderate rain in Himachal Pradesh is expected to continue until September 22 as the IMD has termed the monsoon activity as 'vigorous' during the past 24 hours, with light to moderate rain at most places and heavy to very heavy rain at a few places. While Punjab experienced light to moderate rainfall in some areas of Pathankot and Kapurthala districts and heavy rains in Ropar district, moderate rain occurred at isolated places in Haryana. The monsoon activity in both states has been termed as 'weak'. The IMD has predicted isolated to scattered showers in some parts of these states until September 19 and added that these conditions are favourable for further withdrawal of the monsoon from a few more parts of Punjab and Haryana during the next two to three days. Meanwhile, the water level recorded this morning at Pong Dam on the Beas River was 1,393.50 feet, three and a half feet above the maximum level. The inflow was 130,344 cusecs, and the outflow was 55,020 cusecs. It has been more than a month that the level at the dam has remained above the upper limit of 1,390 feet due to heavy rains in the catchment area. The mean outflow in September during the last 10 years ranged between 9,622 cusecs and 14,852 cusecs, as per information available with the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). The water level at Bhakra Dam today was 1,676.14 feet, four feet below the maximum level of 1,680 feet. The inflow was 87,337 cusecs, and the outflow was 50,000 cusecs. The mean outflow during this month over the last 10 years was between 16,781 cusecs and 32,351 cusecs.
How do we exit the cycle of floods and deaths?
Mumbai: The cycles of extreme climate, alternating between floods and drought, is getting worse by the year, and there are no answers. This year, more than half the country is reeling from floods. Punjab is facing its worst deluge since 1988. Haryana, Rajasthan, and the hill states of Himachal and Uttarakhand have seen cloudbursts, and entire towns being wiped out. In neighbouring Pakistan, the north-west has suffered far worse, with millions displaced and over a 1,000 lives lost. It is not a pretty picture. Across Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Haryana, the combined death toll has reached 500 as of September 4, 2025. Himachal is the worst with 355 deaths. In the northeast, relentless rains in June have claimed 30 lives. Every year the location and toll numbers change. Otherwise, the destruction of lives, crops and human habitation continues with sickening repetition. Somehow our planners and government departments have never really digested the old adage ofgeographer Gilbert F. White, who noted in 1942, Floods are acts of God, but flood losses are largely acts of man. Upstream water Punjab is facing its worst floods since 1988 with nearly 2,000 villages submerged, 4 lakh acres of farm lands devastated and nearly 3.9 lakh people across 9 districts having to migrate to relief spots. Environmental platform Mongabay has documented the extent and reasons for the damage. Punjabs affected villages mainly lie along the River Ravi and lower reaches of the Beas and Sutlej. The waters swelled to unmanageable proportions due to incessant rains in upstream areas in Himachal, which has received as much as 46% above-normal rainfall till 8 September. The situation worsened with the lower catchment areas in Punjab too receiving 55% excess rain. Environmental activists point to the shoddy management of dam waters. The excess release of water at the wrong time, is one of the principal problems. While the Centre controls the Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB) that manages Bhakra and Pong dams, the Punjab government manages the Ranjit Sagar dam on the River Ravi. In the early part of August, the release of water from these dams was kept low despite heavy rainfall in the catchment areas. This was a huge mistake. Thereafter, Himanshu Thakkar, the coordinator of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), said: They had to eventually release heavy quantities of water from August 26 onwards when Punjab was already facing floods due to local rainfall. It ultimately led to the submergence of large parts of Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts. There is rightful fury at the dam management organistions. Citizens groups have filed petitions before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), while the Himachal government has filed an F.I.R. against the dam authority accusing it of releasing excess water without warning. Glacial outbursts Significantly, the floods that ravaged the Harsil region of Uttarakhand on 5 August, wiped out riverside towns Dharali and Sukhi Top, and have claimed several lives, have a different explanation. Despite reports of cloudbursts, the Indian Meteorological Department recorded minimal rainfall. Harsil recorded only 6.5 mm of rain on the day of the disaster, while Bhatwari received just 11.5 mm over 24 hours. This is far short of what is defined as a cloudburst, which implies a massive precipitation of 100 mm or more of rainfall over 24 hours over a localized area. This has led some experts to venture a hypothesis that it was not a cloudburst, but rather a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) or a glacier collapse in the upper reaches that triggered the flash floods. What these experts are saying is that climate change is accelerating glacial retreat, leading to the formation and expansion of glacial lakes that can break their bunds at any time. It is also time that the state government and commercial groups be made accountable for having slaughtered trees, expanded roads and highways in the ecologically sensitive Himalayan zones. It has changed the course of rivers like the River Kheer Ganga. The destruction caused by floods in Pakistan needs intensive study too. As a country that contributes barely 1% towards global climate change, it has suffered widespread damage. Speaking to Dialogue Earth, climate scientist Mohammad Ehsan Leghari said the floods were triggered with 200 to 300 mm of rainfall in a short spell, along with glacial melts, and northern heatwaves in June. While these natural disasters came together, he pointed to the human-made disasters too -- the deforestation, and urbanization and human encroachments blocking the natural flows. Similarly, the Ravi Urban Development Authority s paving of floodplains along the River Ravi in Punjab turned absorbent areas into concrete, inviting devastation by turning them into river paths. The bigger tragedy is there is no learning or rolling back mistakes of the past. Extreme and cyclical changes of climate are not being factored in. The El Nino effect - warming of central and equatorial Indian and Pacific Ocean waters that cause millions of cusecs of rain being dumped in as far off places as Europe, the Horn of Africa, and Bali this year -- has not been reversed. In Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, despite the tragedy that unfoleded recently in the states Harsil sector, there is no rethink on devastating projects in the valley. A Rs 6,200-crore Rispana -- Bindal Elevated Corridor, two flyovers of over 26 kilometers, are in the pipeline. The plan includes erecting support columns in the middle of the beds of Rivers Rispana and Bindal that will choke the natural flow of water and create flooding along the banks of the rivers. Bharti Jain, architect and town planner, has pointed out that as far back as 2007 the flyovers were to be implemented after feasibility studies and Environmental Impact Assessment is done. However, the Doon authorities are brazenly implementing these projects without a thought for on the citys environment, Ms Bharti told this writer.
Punjab to geo-fence 850 water bodies, launch digital elevation mapping after devastating floods
CHANDIGARH: After devastating floods from the swollen Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers, along with seasonal rivulets that submerged villages and breached embankments across Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, the Punjab government has decided to geo-fence all 850 major water bodies in the state, alongside digital elevation modelling of rivers and canals to improve future flood management. This time, it was the Ravi river that unleashed the greatest fury, recording its highest-ever water flow of 14.11 lakh cusecs and causing 42 breaches in its embankments. According to sources in the water resources department, the process of notifying major rivers and water bodies began after the 2023 floods, and nearly all 850 have now been notified. With geo-fencing, any construction within 150 metres of these notified drains will require a no-objection certificate from the department. To strengthen planning, KML files of these drains will also be integrated with the town and country planning department, helping it identify no-construction zones. The department has also procured three drones to assist in digital elevation modelling of rivers and canals through aerial surveys, which will provide detailed data on terrain and topography. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed with the Survey of India to carry out this project within a year. Officials said the modelling will be critical for future river management and planning. A senior officer noted that, for the first time, jumbo bags measuring 3.25 feet were used to plug breaches during the floods. Across the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers, along with canals, there were around 45 breaches42 of them in the Ravi alone. The recent floods hit the border districts of Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilka the hardest, with water gushing from the Ranjit Sagar Dam on the Ravi river. On August 25, the dams water level touched its maximum permissible height of 527.91 metres, rising further to 528.008 metres the next day before the gates were opened. The dam saw an inflow of 2.25 lakh cusecs and an outflow of 2.15 lakh cusecs. But during the intervening night of August 2627, the discharge spiked to 14.11 lakh cusecs at Dharamkot, exceeding the safe gauge level by 2.5 feet. At the Madhopur barrage downstream, water flow touched 2.22 lakh cusecs, far above the Ravis safe carrying capacity. The pressure caused two gates of the barrage to break. The situation worsened when the swollen Ujh river, carrying 2.06 lakh cusecs, joined the Ravi in Gurdaspur, amplifying the flood surge. The 14.11 lakh cusecs was the highest ever discharge recorded in the Ravi, surpassing the previous peak of 11.2 lakh cusecs in 1988. The rivers safe carrying capacity is 9.7 lakh cusecs, but this time it received 4.41 lakh cusecs in excess. In total, over 11.9 lakh cusecs of unregulated water flowed in from smaller channels. The state government has since written to the IMD director general, urging stronger weather forecasting systems for dam catchment areas, citing inaccurate predictions during the floods. Officials defended the release from Ranjit Sagar Dam, stressing that dam safety was of utmost importance given the unprecedented inflows. In contrast, the Bhakra Nangal and Pong dams managed by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) released water in a controlled manner. At Pong, inflows peaked at 2.59 lakh cusecs on August 26, but outflow was capped at 85,000 cusecs by storing water up to four feet above the permissible level of 1,390 feet. The Beas embankments held firm despite historic inflows of 11.70 billion cubic metres, the highest ever recorded. At Bhakra, the reservoir did not touch its maximum level, and the Sutlej river largely stayed within its carrying limits, except for minor erosion.
PM Modi surveys flood-hit Punjab, Himachal amid bomb threat at medical college
Chandigarh, Sept 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a crucial visit to flood-affected regions of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh today to assess the widespread damage caused by recent floods. Arriving at Pathankot Airbase from Delhi, he proceeded by helicopter to conduct an aerial survey of the hardest-hit areas in Himachal Pradesh, including Kullu, Mandi, [] The post PM Modi surveys flood-hit Punjab, Himachal amid bomb threat at medical college appeared first on Northlines .
CHANDIGARH: The AAP-led Punjab Government is set to introduce a new policy allowing farmers to remove sand from flood-hit fields, and to sell extracted sand for additional income. Punjab Incharge of AAP Manish Sisodia, today announced that the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government is set to bring major relief for farmers affected by the recent floods. The state government will soon announce a policy to allow farmers to freely remove sand deposited in their fields due to the floods, ensuring agricultural activities can resume without delay. Sisodia said, The floods have destroyed crops, damaged homes, and claimed livestock. But the biggest concern of our farmers right now is the sand left behind in their fields, which could make future farming impossible. We have taken their feedback seriously. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has already discussed this issue with officials and assured that a clear policy will be announced in the next few days to allow farmers to remove the sand from their fields without any bureaucratic hurdles. He added that the decision will not only help farmers prepare their land for the next sowing season but also provide them with an opportunity to sell the sand if it can be used for construction purposes. AAP, BJP trade charges over cause of Punjab floods as Congress blames both for collective failure This will be a double relief, the land will be cleared for crops, and farmers can also earn some income from selling the sand, Sisodia said. He claimed that the Mann government has been working round-the-clock to support people affected by the floods. All our ministers, MLAs, and volunteers have been on the ground providing relief. I personally visited many districts and villages, met with farmers, understood their problems, and assured them that the government stands firmly with them, he said. Sisodia pointed out that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other senior leaders spoke to the Chief Minister, no concrete financial assistance has been announced yet. Punjabs rightful dues of over Rs 60,000 crore, including Rs 58,000 crore of GST, are pending with the Centre. If this amount had been released earlier, relief and rehabilitation work could have progressed much faster. I urge the Prime Minister to release Punjabs dues before his visit on September 9 , he said. Punjab Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that 504 cattle or buffaloes, 73 sheep and goats and 160 pigs have perished across 14 districts. These districts include Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Barnala, Bathinda, Hoshiarpur, Tarn Taran, Patiala, Jalandhar, Rupnagar and Moga. Additionally, 18,304 poultry birds died in Gurdaspur, Rupnagar and Fazilka due to the collapse of poultry sheds. He further said that approximately 2.52 lakhs animals and 5,88,685 poultry birds were affected by the floods. Khudian added that 481 teams have been deployed to provide treatment and arrange medicines for affected livestock. Till now, 22,534 animals have been provided treatment. He further said that the department has distributed relief supplies, including over 12,170 quintals of feed and 5090.35 quintals of green fodder, dry fodder and silage, to support livestock in flood-affected districts, in collaboration with the district administration and social organisations. Uromin licks are also being supplied to the animals to boost their immune system. Principal Secretary Animal Husbandry Rahul Bhandari said that the department has already released a total of Rs 31.50 lakh for the treatment of animals affected by the floods. Meanwhile Rajya Sabha Member, Sanjay Singh and Punjab Panchayat Minister, Tarunpreet Singh Sond visited flood-affected border villages of Fazilka district on September 7. Singh said that Punjab has been battling floods for nearly a month, yet the Centre continues to wait for reports instead of providing immediate relief. He expressed hope that during his visit to Punjab on September 9, the Prime Minister will announce a substantial relief package for the affected areas. He said that even though the Union Agriculture Minister had earlier visited Punjab, no relief has been provided so far. While Sond stated that relief operations in the district are being carried out with full speed. He added that as water levels begin to recede, the administration is gearing up for the next set of challenges. These include the risk of waterborne diseases and assessment of damages. He emphasised that medical teams, veterinary units, and district administration officials are actively working in the affected villages to ensure that every person in need receives relief supplies.
PM Modi likely to visit Punjab on Sept 9 to assess flood damage; state pegs loss at Rs 13,289 crores
CHANDIGARH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Punjab on September 9 to take stock of the flood situation in the state. Meanwhile, the state government has estimated a loss of Rs 13,289 crore due to the floods that have ravaged the state. Sources said PM Modi is expected to conduct an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas, including border districts. However, his official schedule is yet to be announced. After casting his vote for the vice-presidential election on Tuesday, PM Modi is likely to fly to the state and land in Amritsar in the afternoon and hold a review meeting with top ministers and officials of the state government. He is also likely to visit Gurdaspur. Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann are likely to meet him. Mann is expected to be relieved from the hospital by then. Sources said that yesterday, two central inter-ministerial teams, one headed by Rajesh Gupta of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the other by Santosh Kumar Tiwari of the Ministry of Rural Development, had come to assess the flood situation in the state. The teams held a meeting with the officials of the state delegation, headed by Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, and included other administrative secretaries. AAP, BJP trade charges over cause of Punjab floods as Congress blames both for collective failure The state officials reported to the central teams that the total loss estimated due to the floods is around Rs 13,289 crores. These teams visited Ferozepur, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Taran Taran, and Kapurthala districts and spoke to the affected people. A senior official, on condition of anonymity, said that the extent of damage would be known only after the floodwater recedes. It is expected that the central teams will come back for a fresh assessment once the floodwater recedes. Sources said that the state government has been demanding a special relief package from the Union Government to compensate people for the loss of property and farming. The state also wants funds for the repair of damaged infrastructure, including roads, bridges, culverts, flood protection system, and power transmission. Sources noted that as per the report given by the state government to the central teams, the highest loss has been incurred to the infrastructure and areas related to the rural development and panchayat department to the tune of Rs 5,043 crores while crop damage has been estimated at Rs 1,858 crores and Rs 1,520 crores of water supply damage. The loss to Punjab Mandi is expected to be around Rs 1,022 crore and health department loss is around Rs 780 crore. The rural infrastructure has been severely damaged - this includes rural roads, village infrastructure, hospitals and school buildings. The agriculture department is estimated to suffer a loss of Rs 317 crores, while the loss for the education department is estimated to be Rs 542 crores. According to sources, the estimated losses include about Rs 103 crores in the Power Department, Rs 8 crore in the Higher Education Department, Rs 6 crore each in the Food and Civil Supplies and Water Supply Departments, and Rs 7 crore in the Animal Husbandry Department due to the death of livestock. An officer said that both the central teams will shortly submit their reports to the union government. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has already submitted his report to the PM.
Beas river records highest-ever inflow; BBMB ensures controlled release of Bhakra Dam in Punjab
CHANDIGARH: The Beas river has recorded its highest-ever inflow of water this year, touching 11.70 billion cubic meters (BCM) between July 1 and September 5. Despite the unprecedented inflow, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) maintained a controlled release of not more than one lakh cusecs. BBMB chairman Manoj Tripathi said this years inflow was 20% higher than in 2023, when Beas received 9.52 BCM, and well above the previous highs of 7.94 BCM in 1988 and 5 BCM in 2019. This years inflow is unprecedented. Never before has the Beas carried such volumes, he said. At the Bhakra Dam, the reservoir recorded an inflow of 9.11 BCM. Tripathi noted that the highest inflow had been in 1988 at 9.52 BCM, followed by 8.59 BCM in 2019. The inflow this year is almost equivalent to those years, he added. Importantly, the water level has not crossed the maximum permissible mark of 1,680 feet. In 1988, the level had gone above 1,685 feet, but this year it is around 1,679 feet, Tripathi said. He explained that a rule curve for water regulation was introduced last year after the 2023 floods, in consultation with the Central Water Commission (CWC). The rule curve prescribes how much water should be stored at a given date, based on historical inflows and IMD data. We are strictly adhering to it, he said. Referring to the Pong Dam, Tripathi said that despite receiving the maximum inflow this year, the release was kept at 1.51 lakh cusecs, lower than in 2023. Even though the inflows were above one lakh cusecs for several days, we avoided sudden discharges of 22.5 lakh cusecs. The releases have been gradual, controlled, and done with the consent of all partner states, strictly following the rule curve, he explained. He also clarified that water release decisions are not arbitrary but are taken by a technical committee comprising BBMB members, chief engineers of partner states, and the CWC. Yesterday, 85,000 cusecs were released from Bhakra, and today, after inputs from Ludhiana, the outflow was reduced to 75,000 cusecs, Tripathi said. Sources said the Ludhiana deputy commissioner had sent an SOS to BBMB after reports that embankments along the Sutlej were facing breaches. The Ludhiana administration has since sounded an alert, with embankments in the eastern part of the district under heavy pressure due to the strong river flow. Villages including Sasrali, Boont, Rawat, Hawas, Seera, Boothgarh, Mangli Tanda, Dheri, Khawajke, Khassi Khurd, Mangli Kadar, Mattewara, Mangat, and Meharban are at risk of flooding if the embankment weakens further. Meanwhile, the Pong Dam water level stood at 1,394.71 feet, with inflows reducing to 1,05,950 cusecs and outflows at 99,763 cusecs. The flood situation in Punjab remains grim, with the death toll rising to 43. As many as 1,948 villages are inundated, impacting 3.84 lakh people. Of these, 21,929 have been evacuated, while crops on 1.72 lakh hectares (4.32 lakh acres) have been destroyed. According to official figures, the highest casualties have been reported from Hoshiarpur (7), Pathankot (6), Barnala and Amritsar (5 each), and Ludhiana and Bathinda (4 each). Three persons are missing in Pathankot. Punjab is facing one of its worst flood disasters in decades, caused by overflowing riversSutlej, Beas, Ravi, and Ghaggaralong with torrential rains in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
Floods damage 110 km of Indo-Pak border fence; 90 BSF posts inundated in Punjab, Jammu
CHANDIGARH: Around 110 km of the fence near zero line on the Indo-Pak international border has been damaged and about 90 posts of Border Security Force (BSF) have been inundated besides border pillars due to floods in the forward areas of Punjab and Jammu, completely transforming the landscape. Sources said that out of the 100 km fence which has been damaged by the floods that have wreaked havoc, about 80 km of the fence on the international border is in Punjab and approximately 30 km of it is in Jammu area. The fence at these places has been submerged, uprooted or tilted. Sources further said that not only the fence on the international border has been damaged, but also around 65 posts of the Border Security Force have been inundated in Punjab sector as breaches have been reported in the bundhs across Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Pathankot, Taran Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilka districts along the international border, and approximately 20 posts in Jammu sector. In Shahzada village of Amritsar district, people have taken shelter inside a BSF post at Kamalpur after soldiers vacated it due to rising waters. The BSF post near the Kartarpur Corridor is also inundated as BSF personnel have temporarily shifted to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Dera Baba Nanak. The Ravi river has flooded both sides of the zero line and also the Pakistan Rangers have had to abandon their forward posts, said an official. Several forward defence points (FDPs) or high-ground located observation posts of the force have also been impacted. The BSF has now begun an exercise in these two sectors to restore the fence and the border outposts (BOPs) so that troops can occupy them again. Our personnel are on high alert, especially in those areas where the fencing is completely submerged, said a senior BSF official. Sources added that due to the submergence of the border fencing, the BSF has deployed its water wing, which is equipped with motorboats and surveillance drones to secure the international border. Large searchlights are being used besides electronic monitoring. The BSF will be back on their points soon as the water is receding, said an official. The Sutluj river waters have also inundated the joint check post at Hussainiwala, due to which the Beating the Retreat ceremony has been indefinitely cancelled. The road leading to the check post has been severely damaged at various places. In the last ten days, the BSF has thwarted several attempts by cross-border drug smugglers to take advantage of the flood situation and has seized a huge quantity of heroin. A man belonging to Hazarasingh Wala was also captured as he was trying to swim across to Pakistan near the Pachharian outpost. Despite their own border outposts being inundated, the BSF troopers are reaching out to the affected people in this hour of distress and are carrying out rescue operations in flood-hit border villages. The rescue teams, equipped with speedboats, have been deployed for the rescue. A few days back, a BSF jawan drowned in floodwaters in Jammu. Punjab floods: Army evacuates pregnant woman, elderly patient from rain-affected regions
The recent devastation witnessed on JammuSrinagar National Highway (NH-44) especially between Udhampur and Banihal, and on the same highway between Jammu and Pathankot after a prolonged spell of heavy rains has raised many serious questions about the quality of works accomplished to raise these highways. As it could be seen that rainfall of few days [] The post Big Mistake In Planning Phase appeared first on Northlines .
Union Minister Chouhan inspects flood damage in Punjab, assures aid
CHANDIGARH: Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today visited flood-hit areas in Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts of Punjab, where he interacted with people, including farmers affected by the deluge. After riding a tractor, Chouhan entered an inundated field in Gurdaspur and inspected the paddy crop damaged by the floodwater. Earlier in Amritsar, he stated that two central teams are also visiting the state to assess the situation arising out of floods and will submit a report to the Centre. Chouhan visited one of the worst-affected villages of Ghonewal in Amritsar district and interacted with flood-hit residents. He would also visit Dharamkot Randhawa and Behrampur villages in Gurdaspur district. During his interactions with farmers, he took stock of the situation. A farmer showed him the extensive damage caused to the crop. Chouhan even held the damaged crop, which had remained submerged. He then waded through more than knee-deep water in the inundated field and checked the paddy crop. Loss is visible. The crop is completely damaged, fields are inundated, he said. He added that the silt brought by the Ravi River has been deposited in fields, and there will be a crisis for the next crop. Chouhan further said the central government would do everything for farmers and people. Punjab floods: Army evacuates pregnant woman, elderly patient from rain-affected regions He was accompanied by Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar and national general secretary Tarun Chugh. He assured full support from the Union government in providing necessary assistance to the state for speedy relief and rehabilitation measures. Talking to the media, 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. The Centre fully stands with the people of Punjab in this difficult hour. I have been sent to Punjab by the Prime Minister. We will take stock of the situation, talk to the people, he added. Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria submitted a detailed report on the situation in the five border districts of Amritsar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur. Kataria met Chouhan soon after he landed at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport in Amritsar and apprised him of the extensive damage to life, property, crops and infrastructure after visiting all five flood-affected districts from September 1 to 4. He also briefed Chouhan about the relief and rehabilitation measures taken by the state government, Army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal today met Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Amritsar and submitted a memorandum, seeking 2,000 crore as financial assistance in the first phase for the losses caused by floods in the Ajnala Assembly constituency. The AAP government has demanded the release of 60,000 crore in pending dues of the state from the Centre.
Himachal govt launches massive rescue operation to evacuate Manimahesh pilgrims
CHANDIGARH: The Himachal Pradesh Government has launched a massive rescue operation to evacuate the stranded pilgrims of Manimahesh Yatra from Chamba. While 35 ailing and elderly pilgrims were safely airlifted by helicopter, another 500 devotees were sent by vehicles from Bharmour to Chamba. The Chamba district administration launched the operation to safely evacuate devotees stranded during the Manimahesh Yatra. The authorities on Thursday began transporting nearly 500 devotees from Bharmour to Chamba by vehicles. At certain stretches, where roads have been damaged, adequate security personnel were deployed for their assistance and to ensure their safety. In addition, free food, drinking water, transport and other essential facilities have been arranged en-route to prevent any inconvenience to them. A state government spokesperson said that despite adverse weather conditions, 35 ailing and elderly devotees were safely airlifted to Chamba by a small helicopter, which completed seven sorties during the day. The MI-17 helicopter of Air Force has also been stationed at Pathankot to meet any exigency. He further stated that Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi has been personally supervising the rescue operation on the ground for the past several days. Travelling on foot, he reached Bharmour from Chamba and has been tirelessly engaged in ensuring the safety of the devotees. He said that the state government was committed to safeguard the lives and property of its people as well as the visiting pilgrims and tourists from several parts.
Punjab Floods Live Updates: Over 1,400 Villages Submerged, Rescue Operations Underway
Punjab Floods Live Updates: Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Jalandhar and Rupnagar (Ropar) are the worst-hit districts.
Punjab Battles Worst Floods Since 1988: Impact To Death TollHere's What We Know So Far
Punjab Floods: Over 1,400 villages have submerged and the death toll has risen to 30 confirmed fatalities, with the highest number in Pathankot.
Punjab Floods: 29 Killed, 2.5 Lakh People Impacted In 1 Month
The devastating floods in Punjab have claimed 29 lives so far, the maximum in Pathankot district, besides impacting the lives of more than 2.56 lakh people, officials said on Monday.
PM Modi calls Punjab CM Mann, assures all possible help over flood situation
CHANDIGARH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to discuss the flood situation in the State and assured all possible assistance from the Centre. The conversation took place shortly after Prime Minister Modi landed in New Delhi following his visit to China. According to official sources, the Prime Minister expressed concern over the flood damage and reiterated the Union Governments commitment to extend all necessary support to Punjab. On Sunday, Mann had written to PM Modi, urging him to release Rs 60,000 crore in funds which, he claimed, are pending with the Union Government. In his letter, the Chief Minister said that Punjab is witnessing one of the worst flood disasters in decades, impacting approximately 1,300 villages and affecting lakhs of residents. He said that heavy monsoon rainfall, coupled with the release of water from dams, has led to extensive flooding across seven districts, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Amritsar, Pathankot, Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Hoshiarpur. Mann expressed concern that the situation remains volatile and could deteriorate further in the coming days. He also noted that nearly three lakh acres of agricultural land, primarily paddy fields are submerged under floodwaters, causing significant crop losses just weeks ahead of the harvest. Additionally, he reported widespread loss of livestock, which has severely affected rural households dependent on dairy and animal husbandry for their livelihoods. Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged both the Central and State governments to intensify and expedite relief and rescue operations. Given the scale of devastation, the government must work in mission mode. Farmers, labourers, cattle rearers, and common citizens should receive immediate and effective assistance, he said. The loss of lives and widespread destruction due to the severe floods in Punjab is extremely tragic and painful. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the safety of all those stranded, Gandhi said. Army aviation wing flies for over 250 hours; rescues 5,000 civilians, 300 paramilitary personnel from flood-affected states
Punjab recorded 74% excess, Haryana received 32% more than normal rain in August
CHANDIGARH: In August, Punjab received 253.7 mm of rain, the highest the state has witnessed in the past 25 years, while Haryana recorded 194.5 mm of rain against an average of 147.7 mm for the month. Punjab received deficient rainfall multiple times in the past couple of decades, but this year it recorded the highest rainfall figures for August in the last 25 years, the Met department stated. Punjab recorded 253.7 mm rainfall in August, which was 74 per cent more than the months normal of 146.2 mm. The neighbouring Haryana received 194.5 mm of rain in August against an average of 147.7 mm for the month, which was 32 per cent in excess. Both states received excess rain in August only five times in the past 25 years, including this year. Heavy rains lash several parts of Punjab, Haryana 18 out of the total 23 districts in Punjab recorded excess rain, while a few districts like Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib recorded deficient rainfall. Meanwhile, Gurdaspur recorded 577.5 mm rainfall, 181 per cent more than normal of 205.3 mm; Pathankot received 944.2 mm of rain in August which was 152 per cent in excess than the normal of 375.2 mm; while Tarn Taran recorded 208 mm of rain against the normal of 87.1 per cent in August, which was 139 per cent in excess; Ferozepur received 170.6 mm of rain against a normal of 74.5 mm, which was 129 per cent in excess; Fazilka recorded 146.8 mm of rain as against 68.1 mm, a rise of 115 per cent; Hoshiarpur received 360.6 mm of rain in August, 74 per cent in excess of the normal figures of 207.6 mm; and Amritsar received 226.8 mm of rain in August against a normal of 162.4 mm, which was 40 per cent more. 18 out of the 22 districts in Haryana recorded excess rain in the month of August while four districts including Bhiwani and Ambala, recorded deficient rain. In Haryana excess rainfall was recorded in Fatehabad (252 per cent), Hisar (68 per cent), Faridabad (31 per cent) and Gurugram (24 per cent). Meanwhile Chandigarh (Union Territory), the common capital of Punjab and Haryana, recorded 308.5 mm rainfall in August as against the normal of 248.8 mm which was only 8 per cent more.
Himachal records highest rainfall for August in 15 years; overnight landslides kill three
CHANDIGARH: Himachal Pradesh witnessed over 440 mm of rainfall in August, a staggering 72% above the normal of 256.8 mm, the highest recorded in the past fifteen years. The previous highest August rainfall was 322.5 mm in 2019, but this year saw an excess of 120 mm compared to that. Widespread heavy rain has caused landslides across the hill state, killing three people overnight, while the water level at Pong Dam has crossed its maximum capacity. A red alert has been issued in four districts, and an orange warning is in place for the rest of the state. The state has recorded excess rainfall ranging from 26% to 162% across different regions. Lahaul and Spiti saw 26% more rain, Kangra 29%, Chamba 104%, Solan 118%, Una 121%, Shimla 126%, and Kullu the highest at 162%. Last week alone, Himachal received 165.6 mm of rainfall against the normal 42.4 mm, a deviation of 291%. So far this monsoon, the state has recorded 826.8 mm of rainfall compared to the normal 613.8 mm, amounting to a 35% surplus. The seasonal normal for the entire monsoon period is 734.4 mm. 10 pilgrims dead, eight missing, 6,000 devotees evacuated amid Manimahesh Yatra disaster Landslides triggered by heavy rains led to three deaths in Shimla district. In one incident, 35-year-old Virender Kumar and his 10-year-old daughter were killed after their house was struck by a landslide in Mohal Jot village, Junga tehsil. His wife survived as she was outside at the time. Several cattle were also killed. In another incident, an elderly woman, Kalavati, was buried under debris after a landslide hit her house in Chol village, Kotkhai area. In Rohru subdivision, four families were evacuated after a landslide threatened three homes and buried two cowsheds, trapping livestock. The Manimahesh Yatra, which has claimed 16 lives this season, has been suspended due to the inclement weather. The traditional royal bath was cancelled, and rituals were instead conducted at 84 local temples. Road connectivity across the region has been severely disrupted. The KiratpurManali National Highway has been blocked at several locations between Mandi and Aut due to fresh landslides. Tourists, buses, and trucks are stranded on both sides. The MandiPathankot Highway is also closed near Lavandi Bridge between Mandi and Jogindernagar. The SansariKillarThirotTandi road in LahaulSpiti remains blocked due to rockfall at Nili Dhank. Three pilgrims die during Manimahesh Yatra; heavy rain forces closure of schools, roads in Himachal Authorities in Mandi and LahaulSpiti have issued advisories urging residents to avoid non-essential travel. Emergency services and police have been deployed to manage traffic and assist stranded commuters. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Una, Sirmaur, Bilaspur, and Solan, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next few hours. An orange alert has been issued for Shimla and surrounding areas. As of this morning, the water level at Pong Dam stood at 1,390.52 feet, slightly above its maximum capacity of 1,390 feet. The inflow was recorded at 79,790 cusecs, while the outflow was 1,09,920 cusecs. Of this, 17,079 cusecs passed through turbines and 92,841 cusecs through the spillway. Six machines remain operational at the powerhouse. 380 tourists evacuated from Sissu, Manimahesh Yatris stranded in Chamba as Himachal reels under heavy rains
Heavy rains lash several parts of Punjab, Haryana
CHANDIGARH: Rains lashed several parts of Punjab, Haryana and the Union Territory Chandigarh on Monday, with Ludhiana logging the highest rainfall of 216.70 mm. According to the Met department here, several places in Punjab and Haryana received rain during the 24-hour period ending 8:30 am Monday. Among other places in Punjab which received rain included Amritsar (24.1 mm), Patiala (80.4 mm), Pathankot (3.6 mm), Bathinda (3 mm), Faridkot (10.2 mm), Gurdaspur (2.7 mm), SBS Nagar (112.7 mm), Mohali (64 mm), Mansa (42 mm) and Rupnagar (82.5 mm). Chandigarh, the joint capital of both states, received 76.5 mm of rainfall. Among other places in Haryana, Ambala recorded 48.4 mm, Hisar (11.8 mm), Karnal (12.8 mm), Narnaul (66 mm), Rohtak (13.4 mm), Sirsa (130 mm), Panchkula (57 mm), Panipat (33 mm) and Gurugram (9.5 mm). Punjab is under the grip of massive floods, caused by the swollen Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers and seasonal rivulets due to heavy rain in their catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Villages worst-affected by the floods were in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar districts. Relief and rescue operations by the NDRF, Army, BSF, Punjab Police and district authorities continued on a war footing in the affected areas.
CHANDIGARH: The flood situation in Punjab has worsened due to incessant heavy rainfall, causing major rivers including the Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, and Ghaggar to swell. Out of Punjabs 23 districts, 22 have been affected so far. A total of 1,312 villages are impacted, nearly 3 lakh acres of standing crops have been inundated, and 26 people have lost their lives. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the release of Rs 60,000 crore in state funds that he claims are pending with the Union Government. Punjab Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian confirmed that the 1,312 affected villages include, 93 in Amritsar, 26 in Barnala, 21 in Bathinda, 1 in Fatehgarh Sahib, 92 in Fazilka, 107 in Ferozepur, 324 in Gurdaspur, 86 in Hoshiarpur, 55 in Jalandhar, 123 in Kapurthala, 26 in Ludhiana, 4 in Malerkotla, 77 in Mansa, 35 in Moga, 81 in Pathankot, 14 in Patiala, 2 in Rupnagar, 22 in Sangrur, 1 in SAS Nagar, 3 in SBS Nagar, 74 in Muktsar and 45 in Tarn Taran. Emergency response teams from the state machinery, along with NDRF, SDRF, the Army, and Punjab Police, are working round-the-clock to protect lives and property. Additional Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner (Revenue), Anurag Verma, after inspecting villages along the Sutlej River in Ferozepur district, reported that nearly 3 lakh acres of land have been affected and around 1.25 lakh people are impacted by the floods. He added that the government has ordered a special girdawari (crop damage assessment) to provide compensation for crop losses. District authorities have been instructed to gather accurate loss data, and compensation will be disbursed per CM Manns directives. Currently, six NDRF teams are deployed in Gurdaspur and one each in Fazilka, Ferozepur, Pathankot, and Amritsar. Two SDRF teams are operational in Kapurthala. The Army, Navy, and Air Force are assisting in Kapurthala, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, and Pathankot, while BSF teams are engaged in Gurdaspur and Ferozepur. Punjab Police and Fire Brigade are also assisting in Kapurthala and Ferozepur. Additionally, 15 boats in Kapurthala, 12 in Ferozepur, and 4 in Pathankot are engaged in evacuations, with airlifting operations carried out where required. So far, 26 people have died in the floods, including an irrigation department employee who fell into the Ravi River last week while trying to open flood gates at the Madhopur barrage. Sources said that the Ghaggar River is also overflowing due to excess water from the Markanda and Tangri rivers. Water levels at Chika (Haryana), Khanauri (Sangrur), and Sardulgarh (Mansa) are very high, though still below the danger mark. CM writes to PM Modi In his letter to Prime Minister Modi, CM Mann said that Punjab is facing one of its worst flood disasters in decades, with around 1,300 villages and lakhs of people affected. He said heavy rains and dam releases caused severe flooding in Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Amritsar, Pathankot, Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Hoshiarpur. He noted that nearly 3 lakh acres of mainly paddy crops are submerged just weeks before harvest. Losses of livestock have also deeply affected rural families. The Chief Minister emphasized that Punjab has suffered a permanent revenue loss of Rs 49,727 crore due to the GST replacing VAT, with no compensation granted. Additionally, reductions in RDF and MDF have cost the state over Rs 8,000 crore, and the scrapping of PMGSY projects worth Rs 828 crore has further hurt development. He also slammed the existing State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms, calling them grossly inadequate. Current compensation for crop loss exceeding 33% stands at Rs 17,000 per hectare (or Rs 6,800 per acre). Mann stated the state government already tops this up to Rs 15,000 per acre, but given the extent of devastation, at least Rs 50,000 per acre should be provided. He urged a revision of SDRF norms and assured the Centre that Punjab would continue contributing its 25% share as per scheme guidelines. The Punjab government has extended school holidays till September 3. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the decision was taken on CM Manns instructions to ensure student safety. He urged parents to prioritise their childrens well-being and requested teachers to stay in touch with district administrations to support community efforts. Schools were originally closed from August 27 to 30.
Flood-ravaged Punjab receives 74% excess rain in August, highest in 25 years
Punjab and Haryana experienced excessive rainfall in August. Punjab received its highest rainfall in 25 years, 74% above normal. Eighteen of Punjab's districts recorded excess rain, leading to massive floods in Gurdaspur, Pathankot and other districts. Haryana also saw a 32% increase in rainfall. Chandigarh received an 8% increase. The heavy rains caused swollen rivers and rivulets.
Punjab floods: Death toll rises to 24; 1018 villages affected
CHANDIGARH: The floods in Punjab has claimed 24 lives so far. The flood situation continues to remain grim with 1,018 villages affected and standing crops in 1.51 lakh acres (61,273 hectares) remaining under water in nine districts of the state due to the surging Ravi, Beas and Sutluj rivers. The state has suffered huge financial loss due to crop damage and livestock deaths. As per reports from district headquarters, 16,632 hectares of land have been affected in Fazilka, 10,806 hectares in Ferozepur, 11,620 hectares in Kapurthala, 7,000 hectares in Pathankot, 9,928 hectares in Tarn Taran, and 5,287 hectares in Hoshiarpur. Currently, 77 relief camps are fully operational out of 87 set up in flood affected areas, providing shelter to 4,729 people. The administration is taking care of all the essential needs of these people. The Ravi river continued to flow at 4.60 lakh cusecs, well above the danger level at Dharamkot in Gurdaspur district. The water levels at the Madhopur and Ujh barrages receded to 39,000 cusecs and 7,700 cusecs, respectively. Both the BJP and the Congress party have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a special relief package. The leader of opposition and senior congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa, in his letter, demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a special central relief package, to provide compensation to the next of kin of the victims and farmers who suffered crop loss. Among other things, he also sought assistance for reconstruction of damaged roads, schools and homes and the launch a long term flood management plan for Punjab including strengthening embankments, delisting rivers, and coordinating water release with neighboring states. He also appealed to the PM to personally visit the state to witness the scale of devastation and reassure the affected families. Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar has also written a letter to PM Modi, urgently requesting central assistance. He emphasized the need for additional and immediate assistance given the severity of the disaster and urged the Prime Minister to deploy central assessment teams to evaluate the ground situation and announce a special relief package to address the immediate needs of Punjabs flood-affected people. Former Chief Minister and BJP leader Capt Amarinder Singh said that the devastating floods have shaken the entire state of Punjab, causing unprecedented damage to life, agriculture, and infrastructure. While almost every region has been affected, the most severe impact extends from Bhoa Assembly to Fazilka, along with Kapurthala district, Tarn Taran, Amritsar. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately announce a special relief package for Punjab and to deploy additional central forces to assist in the ongoing rescue and rehabilitation operations. Timely assistance is crucial so that affected families and farmers are not left to suffer in silence. Punjabs economy, already under stress, cannot withstand this scale of destruction without urgent intervention from the Centre, he said. Punjabi singer Satinder Sartaaj has sent one month's ration for 500 families of the flood-affected border sub-division Ajnala. Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney instructed her team of volunteers to deliver these materials to the needy. Another Punjabi singer Jasbir Jassi and Raj Kundra, husband of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, too, have announced relief for the flood-affected area. She said that drones were being used to reach out to people whose houses were submerged in the waters of the Ravi river in Ramdass area. She along with officers was today at Harar Kalan village in Ajnala and stated that the distribution of relief material had been started in the affected villages of the border subdivision. The district administration has also set up relief centres for animals in Chamyari and Ajnala Dana Mandi. Amid the ongoing flood situation in Punjab, acting Jathedar of Akal Takht (Highest Temporal seat of Sikhs) Giani Kuldip Gargay appealed to all the people to stand by one another in this difficult time and extend help to those in distress. He stressed that the real reasons behind the recurring floods in Punjab must be probed and then reasons should be made public so that the people of the state could be prepared for future natural calamities and concerted efforts be made to avoid or mitigate it.
10 pilgrims dead, eight missing, 6,000 devotees evacuated amid Manimahesh Yatra disaster
CHANDIGARH: Ten pilgrims have died, and eight are missing in the ongoing Manimahesh Yatra, which was suspended on Monday due to heavy rains, landslides, and flash floods. Around 6,000 devotees stranded in the Bharmour region have been safely evacuated to Nurpur and Pathankot from Kalsuin. Meanwhile, Dharamsala and McLeodganj are facing a water crisis as the water level at the Pong Dam remains above the danger mark. The Kiratpur-Manali National Highway has also been blocked again due to landslides. Sources report that seven rescue teams, comprising police personnel, home guards, volunteers, NCC cadets, local residents, and civil officers, have been deployed to aid in the rescue operations. The devotees, who had trekked approximately 14 km from the district headquarters to reach Kalsuin, were then transported by 39 buses and 25 taxis to Chamba and Nurpur. Authorities have arranged additional buses to evacuate the remaining pilgrims, with 40 more buses requested. To assist the evacuees, arrangements for food and shelter have been made in Chamba, with community kitchens (langars) set up in Kalsui, Dharwala, and Dakhog to provide meals to the stranded devotees. Despite the debris being cleared from the Kalsui-Rakh road, heavy vehicles cannot pass, making the road unsuitable for large-scale movement. Due to the heavy rains and subsequent flash floods, roads were washed away, and communication links were severed, leading to the deaths of ten devotees and leaving eight others missing en route to the Manimahesh Yatra. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conducted an aerial survey of the disaster-hit areas in Bharmour, Manimahesh, and other regions of Chamba district, as well as Fatehpur and Mand in Kangra district, following the excess water release from the Pong Dam. However, the adverse weather conditions prevented his helicopter from landing in Bharmour. The Chief Minister held a meeting with district administration officials in Chamba and instructed them to expedite the relief and rescue operations in the affected areas. He also stressed the importance of ensuring adequate arrangements for food, water, shelter, and other essential amenities for those stranded. Sukhu visited Kalsuin to oversee the transportation arrangements and interacted with the devotees. He said, The buses have been arranged for the devotees at Kalsuin near Chamba from where they could board the same for going towards Nurpur and Pathankot. He also directed officials to quickly restore the Salooni-Khundimaral road to facilitate the smooth movement of pilgrims, particularly those coming from Jammu's Kishtwar and Doda districts. Sukhu added that the State Governments pre-emptive measures had helped reduce the loss of lives compared to the devastation in 2023. However, the scale of destruction this year was far greater, with widespread damage to roads, electricity, water supply, and communication services. This year, the entire state has been hit by the destruction attributed to incessant rains, landslides, and cloud bursts. The rehabilitation is a challenge, but with the support of the people, we will overcome it courageously. It is our responsibility to rehabilitate the families who have been rendered homeless, lost all means of livelihood, and we will offer a special relief package to support them, he said. The Chief Minister acknowledged that the situation was being closely monitored by key government officials. Speaker of Vidhan Sabha Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, and Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh are reviewing the situation on the ground, Sukhu said, highlighting the humanitarian approach being adopted by the government. He mentioned that, Revenue Minister Negi has proceeded for Bharmour on foot from Chamba. This demonstrates that the present government has adopted a humanitarian approach and was sensitively dealing with the crisis. Regarding road restoration, Sukhu mentioned that heavy machinery, including JCBs and poclains, has been deployed in the district. However, the weather has posed significant challenges to the relief and restoration works. The evacuation of those stranded in Bharmour is also dependent on favourable weather conditions, although helicopters have been deployed for this purpose. The Chief Minister also called for a study to determine the underlying reasons for the frequent occurrence of cloud bursts in the state, citing global warming and climate change as major contributors. We must dig deep to tackle this problem effectively and save valuable lives, he stressed. Before departing for Bharmour, Sukhu inquired about the relief and rehabilitation operations in Kangra district from the Deputy Commissioner, Hemraj Bairwa, following excess water release from Pong Dam. Meanwhile, the water level in the Pong Dam remains above the danger mark at 1,391.28 feet, slightly above the permissible limit of 1,390 feet. The inflow was recorded at 160,276 cusecs, and the outflow was 84,952 cusecs, of which 17,079 cusecs were released through turbines, and 67,873 cusecs through spillways. At the MHC, the discharge stood at 11,500 cusecs, and 73,452 cusecs were released downstream at the Shah Nehar Barrage, with six machines operational at the dam. The water shortage in Dharamsala and McLeodganj is also a growing concern, as several water supply schemes were disrupted due to heavy rainfall, which caused landslides and damaged pipelines. The main supply line from the Naddi water treatment plant to Dharamsala was damaged due to land subsidence, affecting several distribution networks. The Gajj Khadd scheme, one of the major sources of water for the city, has been non-functional for over a month, and both the Naddi-Bhatehad and Bhagsunag schemes were also disrupted, further affecting the water supply to large parts of the city. Once again, the Kiratpur-Manali National Highway has been blocked between Mandi and Kullu due to a massive landslide, just a day after it was reopened following a four-day closure. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has deployed its workforce and heavy machinery to clear the blockage, but the disruption has left vehicles and tourists stranded. A flash flood triggered by heavy rainfall was reported at Katwadhi village under the Nandi Panchayat of Gohar subdivision in Mandi district. The sudden surge of water in the Naseni Nallah caused significant damage to local infrastructure, although fortunately, no loss of human life has been reported. As of this morning, 557 roads, including three national highways, remain closed for traffic. Of these, 213 are in Mandi district, 160 in Kullu, 28 in Shimla, 38 in Sirmaur, 60 in Kangra, 23 in Una, 14 in Lahaul and Spiti, 11 in Solan, and 9 in Bilaspur district. According to the State Emergency Operations Centre, 936 power supply transformers and 223 water supply schemes have also been disrupted across the state. In Shimla, two individuals, Hemant and Pyare Lal, were injured after their houses were damaged by landslides in Thala village in Rampur Subdivision. Both were rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
10 pilgrims dead, eight missing, 5,000 devotees evacuated amid Manimahesh Yatra disaster
CHANDIGARH: Ten pilgrims have died, and eight are missing in the ongoing Manimahesh Yatra, which was suspended on Monday due to heavy rains, landslides, and flash floods. Around 5,000 devotees stranded in the Bharmour region have been safely evacuated to Nurpur and Pathankot from Kalsuin. Meanwhile, Dharamsala and McLeodganj are facing a water crisis as the water level at the Pong Dam remains above the danger mark. The Kiratpur-Manali National Highway has also been blocked again due to landslides. Sources report that seven rescue teams, comprising police personnel, home guards, volunteers, NCC cadets, local residents, and civil officers, have been deployed to aid in the rescue operations. The devotees, who had trekked approximately 14 km from the district headquarters to reach Kalsuin, were then transported by 39 buses and 25 taxis to Chamba and Nurpur. Authorities have arranged additional buses to evacuate the remaining pilgrims, with 40 more buses requested. To assist the evacuees, arrangements for food and shelter have been made in Chamba, with community kitchens (langars) set up in Kalsui, Dharwala, and Dakhog to provide meals to the stranded devotees. Despite the debris being cleared from the Kalsui-Rakh road, heavy vehicles cannot pass, making the road unsuitable for large-scale movement. Due to the heavy rains and subsequent flash floods, roads were washed away, and communication links were severed, leading to the deaths of ten devotees and leaving eight others missing en route to the Manimahesh Yatra. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conducted an aerial survey of the disaster-hit areas in Bharmour, Manimahesh, and other regions of Chamba district, as well as Fatehpur and Mand in Kangra district, following the excess water release from the Pong Dam. However, the adverse weather conditions prevented his helicopter from landing in Bharmour. The Chief Minister held a meeting with district administration officials in Chamba and instructed them to expedite the relief and rescue operations in the affected areas. He also stressed the importance of ensuring adequate arrangements for food, water, shelter, and other essential amenities for those stranded. Sukhu visited Kalsuin to oversee the transportation arrangements and interacted with the devotees. He said, The buses have been arranged for the devotees at Kalsuin near Chamba from where they could board the same for going towards Nurpur and Pathankot. He also directed officials to quickly restore the Salooni-Khundimaral road to facilitate the smooth movement of pilgrims, particularly those coming from Jammu's Kishtwar and Doda districts. Sukhu added that the State Governments pre-emptive measures had helped reduce the loss of lives compared to the devastation in 2023. However, the scale of destruction this year was far greater, with widespread damage to roads, electricity, water supply, and communication services. This year, the entire state has been hit by the destruction attributed to incessant rains, landslides, and cloud bursts. The rehabilitation is a challenge, but with the support of the people, we will overcome it courageously. It is our responsibility to rehabilitate the families who have been rendered homeless, lost all means of livelihood, and we will offer a special relief package to support them, he said. The Chief Minister acknowledged that the situation was being closely monitored by key government officials. Speaker of Vidhan Sabha Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, and Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh are reviewing the situation on the ground, Sukhu said, highlighting the humanitarian approach being adopted by the government. He mentioned that, Revenue Minister Negi has proceeded for Bharmour on foot from Chamba. This demonstrates that the present government has adopted a humanitarian approach and was sensitively dealing with the crisis. Regarding road restoration, Sukhu mentioned that heavy machinery, including JCBs and poclains, has been deployed in the district. However, the weather has posed significant challenges to the relief and restoration works. The evacuation of those stranded in Bharmour is also dependent on favourable weather conditions, although helicopters have been deployed for this purpose. The Chief Minister also called for a study to determine the underlying reasons for the frequent occurrence of cloud bursts in the state, citing global warming and climate change as major contributors. We must dig deep to tackle this problem effectively and save valuable lives, he stressed. Before departing for Bharmour, Sukhu inquired about the relief and rehabilitation operations in Kangra district from the Deputy Commissioner, Hemraj Bairwa, following excess water release from Pong Dam. Meanwhile, the water level in the Pong Dam remains above the danger mark at 1,391.28 feet, slightly above the permissible limit of 1,390 feet. The inflow was recorded at 160,276 cusecs, and the outflow was 84,952 cusecs, of which 17,079 cusecs were released through turbines, and 67,873 cusecs through spillways. At the MHC, the discharge stood at 11,500 cusecs, and 73,452 cusecs were released downstream at the Shah Nehar Barrage, with six machines operational at the dam. The water shortage in Dharamsala and McLeodganj is also a growing concern, as several water supply schemes were disrupted due to heavy rainfall, which caused landslides and damaged pipelines. The main supply line from the Naddi water treatment plant to Dharamsala was damaged due to land subsidence, affecting several distribution networks. The Gajj Khadd scheme, one of the major sources of water for the city, has been non-functional for over a month, and both the Naddi-Bhatehad and Bhagsunag schemes were also disrupted, further affecting the water supply to large parts of the city. Once again, the Kiratpur-Manali National Highway has been blocked between Mandi and Kullu due to a massive landslide, just a day after it was reopened following a four-day closure. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has deployed its workforce and heavy machinery to clear the blockage, but the disruption has left vehicles and tourists stranded. A flash flood triggered by heavy rainfall was reported at Katwadhi village under the Nandi Panchayat of Gohar subdivision in Mandi district. The sudden surge of water in the Naseni Nallah caused significant damage to local infrastructure, although fortunately, no loss of human life has been reported. As of this morning, 557 roads, including three national highways, remain closed for traffic. Of these, 213 are in Mandi district, 160 in Kullu, 28 in Shimla, 38 in Sirmaur, 60 in Kangra, 23 in Una, 14 in Lahaul and Spiti, 11 in Solan, and 9 in Bilaspur district. According to the State Emergency Operations Centre, 936 power supply transformers and 223 water supply schemes have also been disrupted across the state. In Shimla, two individuals, Hemant and Pyare Lal, were injured after their houses were damaged by landslides in Thala village in Rampur Subdivision. Both were rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
Army Rescued 1,000 Stranded People From Flood-Hit Areas From Gurdaspur To Jammu: GoC
Jammu, Aug 29: The General Officer Commanding (GoC) Tiger Division, Major General Mukesh Bhanwala, on Friday said that the Army has rescued nearly 1,000 stranded people, including children, students and paramilitary personnel, during large-scale rescue and relief operations carried out in close coordination with the civil administration in the JammuGurdaspur belt. The recent heavy rains triggered severe floods across Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Pathankot and Gurdaspur, causing widespread damage to infrastructure and affecting our people. Responding with urgency, the Indian Army [] The post Army Rescued 1,000 Stranded People From Flood-Hit Areas From Gurdaspur To Jammu: GoC appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
CHANDIGARH: The flood situation in Punjab remains critical, with 836 villages and standing crops across more than 1.10 lakh acres affected in eight districts, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar, due to swelling of the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers. So far, 7,689 people have been evacuated to safer locations. Heavy rains and the rising Ghaggar river, following intense rainfall in its catchment area and the opening of floodgates at Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh, have prompted a flood alert in Patiala. Drones have been pressed into service to deliver relief material, including medicines, dry rations and water bottles, to affected residents in Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district. Meanwhile, amphibious ATOR (All Terrain Off Road) vehicles have been deployed to evacuate stranded villagers in the Ramdas area of Amritsar. Chairing a high-level meeting to review the flood situation, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said, The heavy flow of water from hilly areas has created havoc for the state. Till date, 14.11 lakh cusecs of water has been received in river Ravi. This is the highest discharge the state has ever received; it was 11.20 lakh cusecs when severe floods struck the state in 1988. He added that the state government has already written to Haryana and Rajasthan, urging them to release maximum water from the rivers. The army has already been deployed in five flood-affected districts and is conducting rescue operations along with the administration using state-of-the-art equipment and machinery, CM Mann said. Seventeen teams of the NDRF have also been deployed to carry out relief measures so that the flood-affected people can be rescued. He noted that continuous on-ground operations are ongoing to evacuate stranded people, assess damage, and prevent disease outbreaks. Flood situation remains grim in eight districts of Punjab; dams near capacity CM Mann also said the government has constituted a high-powered committee of three senior officers to supervise relief and rescue operations in the flood-hit districts daily. The committee, comprising senior officers from the Revenue, Water Resources and Food and Civil Supplies departments, will remain stationed in Amritsar and other affected areas. He asked the Chief Secretary to visit flood-affected areas to ensure relief and rescue operations are carried out more effectively. Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla said, With heavy rainfall in the catchment areas continuing to swell the Sutlej, Beas, Ravi and Ujh rivers, Punjab Police, along with teams from the Army, Border Security Force, NDRF, SDRF and civil administration, have been working in tandem. So far, 7,689 people have been evacuated and shifted to safe places. Shukla, personally supervising the situation, added, Drones are being used to trace people for evacuation and to deliver food packets and other essential items. He noted that 20 Indian Army helicopters have been stationed in the state to help evacuate and relocate people safely. Since 27 August, troops of the Army's Panther Division have been tirelessly operating in the flood-hit Ramdas-Ajnala belt. In 40+ submerged villages, soldiers are carrying out nonstop rescue and relief operationsevacuating families, delivering medical aid, distributing food and essentials, and supporting civil authorities in restoring normalcy, the Army posted on X. Amritsar district administration has deployed amphibious ATOR vehicles and boats to reach stranded villagers. Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said, We are reaching out to stranded people in waterlogged villages by boat. People are being continuously evacuated to safe locations, and those who wish to stay back are being provided with necessary supplies through boats. While 836 villages and standing crops across 1.10 lakh acres were worst affected, heavy rains have triggered flood alerts in Patiala, where 202 villages in Gurdaspur, 107 in Kapurthala, 85 in Gurdaspur, 81 in Pathankot, 93 in Ferozepur, 64 in Muktsar and 45 in Tarn Taran are at risk. The Patiala district administration has issued a high alert for low-lying villages along the Ghaggar river following heavy rainfall in its catchment area and the opening of Sukhna Lake floodgates. Punjab flood crisis deepens: rivers overflow, dams exceed limits, villages submerged Villages along the Ghaggar river embankment near Derabassi were also advised to stay alert, although authorities assured residents there was no cause for panic. In Hoshiarpur, villages are still reeling from the damage caused by the Chakki Khad tributary of the Beas, which breached embankments and submerged farmlands in Mukerian subdivision. Residents have urged authorities to plug the breaches immediately to prevent further losses. Farmlands in several villages across Tanda and Mukerian subdivisions have remained submerged for days. Hoshiarpur Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain visited flood-affected areas of Tanda and Dasuya subdivisions and assured that all efforts were being made to provide timely assistance. The Ferozepur district remains heavily affected, with nearly 16,000 acres of crops inundated and 62 villages badly hit. Over 2,500 residents have been rescued, and 13 relief camps have been established to shelter displaced families. Officials also noted that the Pong Dam on the Beas river remains above the danger mark, with water levels at 1,391.98 feet on Friday morning, an outflow of 1,00,614 cusecs, and an inflow of 53,000 cusecs. Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said, All INC Punjab MLAs and I have decided to contribute one month's salary to the Chief Minister's Flood Relief Fund. In solidarity with the flood-affected families of Punjab, this is a humble gesture of empathy in these testing times. I urge all citizens and organisations to come forward for relief and rehabilitation. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had earlier stated that his entire cabinet and all AAP MLAs would donate one month's salary towards flood relief efforts. Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar visited the flood-affected Ajnala Assembly constituency, criticising the state governments utilisation of disaster funds. The Central Government has released 229 crore out of the allocated 611 crore for disaster management in Punjab, but the state government has failed to utilise these funds effectively, he said. Jakhar added that he would write to the Prime Minister to request additional assistance for Punjabs flood-affected people.
CHANDIGARH: Heavy rainfall has triggered fresh landslides and flash floods across five districts of Himachal Pradesh, Chamba, Kullu, Lahaul Spiti, Kangra, and Mandi, leaving the situation grim. Around 380 tourists stranded in Sissu, Lahaul and Spiti, have been safely evacuated. Meanwhile, pilgrims of the Manimahesh Yatra, which was suspended on Monday due to heavy rains, remain stranded in Chamba town owing to massive landslides. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presided over a disaster review meeting covering the five affected districts through video conference from New Delhi today. He discussed the current situation at length with the Divisional Commissioner, Kangra, stationed at Chamba, as well as with the Deputy Commissioner of Chamba and the Superintendent of Police, both stationed at Bharmour. Sukhu sought information about the stranded Manimahesh Yatris, losses incurred due to flash floods and heavy rains, and the status of ongoing relief and restoration works. He was informed that all the stranded devotees were safe and well attended to, with proper arrangements for food, shelter, and first aid. He directed the restoration of communication services across the district, particularly in Bharmour, to ensure that residents could contact their near and dear ones. Additionally, he instructed authorities to make arrangements for the safe return of the devotees housed in large numbers at Chamba Chaugan. It was also reported in the meeting that Jio, Airtel, and BSNL services have been restored in Chamba town, and the 25-kilometre road from Chamba to Bharmour has been reopened. Sukhu instructed the Chamba and Bharmour district administration to prioritise the evacuation of Manimahesh Yatris, especially women and children. He also directed the airlifting of the elderly and ill. He emphasised the provision of basic amenities, including food, shelter, and first aid, and instructed authorities to facilitate the safe journey of the stranded devotees to their destinations. In addition, he ordered airdrops of food at inaccessible locations where devotees were still stranded. Sukhu asked for adequate stocks of rations and vegetables, deployment of Air Force helicopters, and assignment of officers to ensure patch-wise restoration of roads washed away or blocked by landslides. He further called for additional manpower and machinery to clear roads swiftly and to restore water and electricity schemes. The Chief Minister was briefed on the status of blocked roads, disrupted electricity, irrigation and drinking water schemes, and communication services in the affected districts. He directed the Deputy Commissioners of Mandi and Kullu to ensure smooth vehicular movement through alternate routes and emphasised the prompt restoration of drinking water and electricity, alongside reopening blocked roads. Inquiring about the situation in Bara-Bhangal, Kangra district, Sukhu ordered airdrops of food grains and other essentials for residents. He also called for speedy assessments of land lost to the floods. He reviewed restoration works at Indora, Fatehpur, and Pong dam. Officials reported that the water level in Pong dam has decreased and that people from submerged areas have been safely relocated. Sukhu instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Lahaul and Spiti to ensure the evacuation of all tourists. Later, DC Lahaul and Spiti Kiran Bhadana confirmed that around 380 tourists stranded in Sissu had been safely evacuated. She reported that Jio and Airtel services had been restored, with further efforts underway to restore other networks. She also confirmed that power supply had been restored in many areas, and generation had resumed at Thirot electricity substation. The Chief Minister asked the Chief Secretary to coordinate with the district administration for the proper execution of these measures. It was reported that the PathankotChamba road is now open to all vehicles, while small vehicles are plying via the KamandKatola road towards Kullu. Sukhu directed the district administration to restrict this alternate route to small vehicles, with heavy vehicles halted at Mandi until roads are cleared. He was informed that the KulluMandi NH-03 is open to small vehicles and that major roads in Mandi have been cleared, except for the MandiSarkaghat route via Basahi/Dharampur.
56 BSF personnel among 308 persons rescued by Army in Jammu-Pathankot sector
The Army has intensified rescue operations across Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, deploying 20 columns and evacuating 308 individuals, including BSF personnel and children from an orphanage. Since Tuesday, a total of 943 people have been rescued from flood-affected areas. Additionally, essential supplies, medicines, and vital data connectivity are being restored, while critical patients are being airlifted from inaccessible regions.
Punjab floods: Indian Army's daredevil rescue mission with Cheetah helicopters - Watch
The Indian Army, NDRF, BSF, and IAF have been conducting extensive rescue operations in Punjab's flood-affected districts, including Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot. Aviation helicopters evacuated stranded civilians, CRPF personnel, and irrigation officials, while ground teams rescued villagers from rising floodwaters using boats. These efforts provided essential relief and instilled confidence among the distressed population amidst severe flooding reminiscent of 1988.
CHANDIGARH: The army launched humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations following incessant rains and floods in Himachal Pradesh , Punjab, and Jammu. A total of 1,211 civilians, including 11 Punjab Government officials stranded at Madhopur Barrage and 180 PMF personnel, have been evacuated to safety. Nearly 2,300 kilograms of essential supplies, including food, water, and medicines, have been dropped or distributed in cut-off areas by army helicopters and ground teams. The army aviation assets have played a crucial role in rescue missions. Twelve helicopters comprising three advanced light helicopters (ALH) and nine Cheetah helicopters executed challenging winching and hovering operations, rescuing numerous civilians stranded on rooftops and in inundated villages. The defence spokesman said the operations were undertaken swiftly using all resources to rescue the civil populace. Jammu & Kashmir flash floods: 30 dead in Vaishno Devi landslide; Rescue operations in full swing All the actions were undertaken in close coordination with the local state administration. Swift and determined actions by army aviation and ground forces have brought much-needed relief to flood-affected families across Jammu, Mamun, Pathankot (Samba, Kachle, Sujanpur), Gurdaspur (Makaura Pattan, Adalatgarh), Amritsar and Ferozepur sectors. A total of 28 Army columns, including medical teams and communication resources, have been activated to reinforce the relief effort. These columns are providing immediate ground support, evacuation assistance, restoration of connectivity and medical aid to displaced families. In addition, boats and safety ropes are used to ferry stranded people to safer areas, stated the spokesperson. The army medical teams continue to provide on-the-spot aid to the injured and vulnerable. In a significant engineering effort, a Bailey Bridge has been provided to the Jammu State Administration to restore connectivity in flood-damaged areas, ensuring the movement of relief supplies and critical resources. The armys HADR operations are being conducted round-the-clock in synergy with the state administration. Flood warnings issued in Punjab as Beas, Ravi rivers swell from heavy Himachal rains
Flood situation remains grim in eight districts of Punjab; dams near capacity
CHANDIGARH: The flood situation remained grim in eight districts of PunjabPathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, and Amritsaras district administrations, with the help of the Army, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), continued relief and rescue operations. The water levels at Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams have already crossed the maximum limits, while at Bhakra dam, it is only nine feet short of full capacity. More than 300 government schools are likely to be affected by flood in these areas. The Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers, along with seasonal rivulets, rose following heavy rains in their catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, inundating large stretches of farmland and villages in Punjab. At Bhakra dam, the water level was recorded at 1671.85 feet, just nine feet below the maximum level of 1680 feet, with inflow at 38,583 cusecs and outflow at 52,584 cusecs. Pong dam stood at 1,393.36 feet, exceeding its maximum capacity of 1,390 feet, with inflow at 57,183 cusecs and outflow at 94,845 cusecs. Ranjit Sagar dam, which has a maximum limit of 527.91 meters, was at 525.49 meters, registering an inflow of 56,572 cusecs and outflow of 1.01 lakh cusecs. At Shahpur Kandi dam, the water level touched 399.60 meters against a maximum of 405 meters, with outflow at 89,932 cusecs. Punjab flood crisis deepens: rivers overflow, dams exceed limits, villages submerged Sources said if heavy inflows continue for another day or two, the increased release of water from reservoirs to maintain safe levels could worsen flooding in low-lying areas. In the Ramdass area of Amritsar district, around 40 villages have been submerged after the Dhussi Bandh on the Ravi river breached at three points, allowing water to enter nearby habitations. Army personnel are using vehicles and boats to rescue stranded people. Police have been making loudspeaker announcements urging residents to move to safer places as water continues to enter villages at high speed. Locals expressed concern that the rising waters could soon overflow into the Sakhi Nullah, posing a direct threat to Ajnala town. The highway is acting as a temporary barrier, but its capacity to hold back water is weakening. Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said that with water levels rising and more villages submerged, tractors and army vehicles are being used for rescue as roads have become impassable. She added that additional NDRF teams from Bathinda were on their way and more army assistance was being mobilised. Sawhney herself had to abandon her vehicle and switch to a tractor to oversee operations. The situation in Ferozepur district also remained serious, with over 2,000 people rescued from affected villages in the past 48 hours. Deputy Commissioner Deepshikha Sharma said 12 relief camps have been set up at Bagge Wala, Bare Ke, Dulchi Ke, Fatte Wala, Joege Wala, Dona Mathar, and Madi Ke. Meanwhile, the Punjab Education Department has begun assessing the damage caused to schools. Preliminary reports suggest over 300 senior secondary and elementary schools have been affected. The state government had already declared holidays from August 27 to 30. Sources said many government schools in Kapurthala, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, and Fazilka districts were inundated. Schools in Amritsar, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Ropar, and Nawanshahar districts have also been affected. Furniture and other infrastructure in schools are likely to have been damaged, and safety checks will need to be conducted before classes can resume, said an official.
Punjab: Several districts under grip of floods; rescue operations intensified
The worst-affected villages are in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar districts
Indian Army Aviation executed a perilous helicopter rescue in Pathankot, Punjab, evacuating civilians and CRPF personnel from a building encircled by floodwaters. Despite hazardous weather, army pilots demonstrated exceptional skill by landing on the precarious structure. The building collapsed shortly after the evacuation, underscoring the operation's critical timing and the team's bravery.
CHANDIGARH: The flood situation remains grim in eight districts of Punjab --Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilka-- where the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers are in spate. Approximately 400 students and 40 staff members are feared to be trapped in rising floodwaters at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Daburi village of Gurdaspur. The school is situated along the Gurdaspur-Dorangla road. According to sources, Kiran nullah, which flows adjacent to the school, has not been cleaned in years, which has led to the accumulation of floodwater in and around the premises. Meanwhile, as many as 22 CRPF personnel and three civilians were evacuated from a flooded village by an Army helicopter, just minutes before the building they were sheltering in collapsed. A defence spokesperson said that the Army, in a swift and daring operation, evacuated the people who were stranded near Madhopur Headworks, an area bordering Lakhanpur in Jammu and Kashmir. The building where these people were sheltering collapsed shortly after the evacuation, highlighting the timeliness and precision of the rescue. At 6 am on Wednesday, Army Aviation helicopters took off to carry out the rescue operation despite challenging conditions, and all stranded individuals were safely evacuated, he said. Indian Army Aviation undertook a high-risk helicopter rescue operation, evacuating stranded civilians and #CRPF personnel from a building surrounded by raging floodwaters and at imminent risk of collapse at Madhopur Headworks, #Punjab . Braving challenging weather and rapidly pic.twitter.com/8999qBrs0x ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) August 27, 2025 This successful operation once again reflects the Indian Armys unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and its ability to respond promptly in crisis situations. The synergy between the Army and local authorities averted a potential tragedy, he added. The water level in the Ravi river was recorded at 4.60 lakh cusecs early this morning, leading to flooding in Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Amritsar districts. The water level in the Ranjit Sagar Dam on the Ravi crossed the danger mark of 527.91 metres, prompting authorities to release water from the reservoir in a controlled manner. Yesterday, approximately 1.95 lakh cusecs of water were released from the dam. Controlled releases are also being made from the Bhakra and Pong dams. The catchment areas of the three dams in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh have witnessed heavy rainfall since the start of August. Mandi, the worst-affected district in the hill state, is one of the main catchment areas for the Beas river, on which the Pong Dam is built. Several cloudbursts have led to a massive inflow of water into the reservoir, causing a sharp rise in its levels. The Punjab government has already issued warnings to people residing in villages along the rivers to be prepared for any eventuality. Relief camps have also been set up in the affected districtsone in Kapurthala, six in Ferozepur and five in Hoshiarpur. In Fazilka, 36,435 acres of land have been inundated due to the floods, and 270 houses have either collapsed or developed cracks. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will be touring Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts today to take stock of the flood situation and oversee relief and rescue operations. Mann has also formed a committee for flood management and set up a central flood control room in Jalandhar. 34 dead as heavy rains lash J&K; mobile, internet service down
Army evacuates 25, including CRPF personnel, minutes before building collapse amid Punjab floods
CHANDIGARH: The flood situation remains grim in eight districts of Punjab --Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilka-- where the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers are in spate. As many as 22 CRPF personnel and three civilians were evacuated from a flooded village by an Army helicopter, just minutes before the building they were sheltering in collapsed. A defence spokesperson said that the Army, in a swift and daring operation, evacuated the people who were stranded near Madhopur Headworks, an area bordering Lakhanpur in Jammu and Kashmir. The building where these people were sheltering collapsed shortly after the evacuation, highlighting the timeliness and precision of the rescue. At 6 am on Wednesday, Army Aviation helicopters took off to carry out the rescue operation despite challenging conditions, and all stranded individuals were safely evacuated, he said. Indian Army Aviation undertook a high-risk helicopter rescue operation, evacuating stranded civilians and #CRPF personnel from a building surrounded by raging floodwaters and at imminent risk of collapse at Madhopur Headworks, #Punjab . Braving challenging weather and rapidly pic.twitter.com/8999qBrs0x ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) August 27, 2025 This successful operation once again reflects the Indian Armys unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and its ability to respond promptly in crisis situations. The synergy between the Army and local authorities averted a potential tragedy, he added. The water level in the Ravi river was recorded at 4.60 lakh cusecs early this morning, leading to flooding in Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Amritsar districts. The water level in the Ranjit Sagar Dam on the Ravi crossed the danger mark of 527.91 metres, prompting authorities to release water from the reservoir in a controlled manner. Yesterday, approximately 1.95 lakh cusecs of water were released from the dam. Controlled releases are also being made from the Bhakra and Pong dams. The catchment areas of the three dams in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh have witnessed heavy rainfall since the start of August. Mandi, the worst-affected district in the hill state, is one of the main catchment areas for the Beas river, on which the Pong Dam is built. Several cloudbursts have led to a massive inflow of water into the reservoir, causing a sharp rise in its levels. The Punjab government has already issued warnings to people residing in villages along the rivers to be prepared for any eventuality. Relief camps have also been set up in the affected districtsone in Kapurthala, six in Ferozepur and five in Hoshiarpur. In Fazilka, 36,435 acres of land have been inundated due to the floods, and 270 houses have either collapsed or developed cracks. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will be touring Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts today to take stock of the flood situation and oversee relief and rescue operations. Mann has also formed a committee for flood management and set up a central flood control room in Jalandhar. 34 dead as heavy rains lash J&K; mobile, internet service down
Video: Army Rescues 25, Including 22 CRPF Personnel, Stranded Due To Punjab Floods
The Indian Army Aviation on Wednesday conducted a daring rescue operation near Madhopur Headworks in Punjab's Pathankot district, saving 22 CRPF personnel and three civilians who were stranded due to rising floodwaters.
Flash Floods In Punjab: 50 Border Villages Inundated As Sutlej River Swells, Over 200 Evacuated
Indian Army Aviation rescued 25 CRPF personnel and three civilians near Madhopur Headworks, Pathankot, after flash floods.
Railways Cancel 22 Trains In Jammu Division For August 27 Amid Heavy Rainfall
The Northern Railways on Tuesday cancelled 22 trains, halting at or departing from Jammu and Katra railway stations on August 27. Twenty-seven trains were short-terminated at Firozpur, Manda and Chak Rakhwalan, and Pathankot
Army deploys multiple rescue columns, helicopters in flood-hit areas of Jammu and Punjab
The Army has launched extensive rescue operations in flood-hit Jammu and Punjab, deploying rescue columns and helicopters. Dozens of civilians and BSF personnel have been evacuated from marooned areas, including SKUAST-Jammu. Operations are ongoing in R S Pura, Pathankot, and other regions, with stranded students, civilians, and army personnel being rescued.
Jammu-Pathankot, Jammu-Srinagar Highways Among Roads Closed Due To Landslides, Damaged Bridges
Jammu, Aug 26: Heavy rain in the Jammu region has disrupted normal traffic movement as the Jammu-Pathankot and Jammu-Srinagar national highways, as well as several inter-district roads, have been closed due to landslides, swollen rivers, and damaged bridges. A landslide on the route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop the Trikuta hill on Tuesday afternoon killed at least six people, while several were feared trapped. Also, four people were killed in Jammus Doda district in separate rain-related incidents. Traffic [] The post Jammu-Pathankot, Jammu-Srinagar Highways Among Roads Closed Due To Landslides, Damaged Bridges appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
J&K: Landslide hits Vaishno Devi route in Reasi, at least six injured
A landslide triggered by heavy rains struck the route to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, causing injuries and prompting rescue operations. All trains from Katra have been cancelled. The region is experiencing heavy rainfall, leading to rising river levels, flash floods, and damage to infrastructure, including a bridge on the Jammu-Pathankot Highway.
A bridge over the Sahar Khad river near the Jammu-Pathankot Highway in Jammu and Kashmir's (J-K) Kathua has been damaged after the river began flowing in spate due to continuous rains in the region.
CHANDIGARH: Incessant rainfall in the catchment areas has continued to swell the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers, while the release of surplus water from the Pong, Bhakra, and Ranjit Sagar dams has further aggravated the situation. The gushing waters have inundated large tracts of farmland and villages along the three rivers, throwing normal life out of gear in Punjab and turning the situation grim. The worst-affected districts are Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Ferozepur, and Fazilka, where schools have been ordered to remain closed. The swollen Ravi has become a major source of worry for residents of Gurdaspur as inflows into the river continue to rise due to heavy rains upstream. According to official data, the water level of the Ravi at Makora Pattan in Gurdaspur touched 2.50 lakh cusecs on Monday morning, prompting the civil administration to remain on alert. At Harike, where the Beas and Sutlej rivers converge, the water level was recorded at 2.34 lakh cusecs. As this water flows downstream to Hussainiwala in Ferozepur and further into Fazilka, local authorities and residents are on high alert and prepared for emergency evacuations. The water flowing from the Beas and Sutlej into the Harike Headworks has already ravaged thousands of acres of crops in several villages in Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, and Fazilka districts. Schools in Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, and Ferozepur districts have also been shut, while the respective district administrations have issued evacuation advisories to flood-hit villages as waters continue to rise. Due to heavy rainfall in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, the Ravi and Ujh rivers, along with the Jalaliya, Chakki, and various canals and drains flowing through Pathankot district, are running beyond capacity. In Gurdaspur, the release of water from the Ranjit Sagar dam has inundated farmland in the Dera Baba Nanak area. Several villages situated between the Ravi river and the international border, along with others, are also submerged. Meanwhile, relief camps have been set up across several districts, with teams from health, animal husbandry, water supply and sanitation, and revenue departments actively working in the affected villages. Cabinet minister Harbhajan Singh ETO has been tasked with reviewing flood relief work in Tarn Taran, while MLA Manjinder Singh Lalpura and Barinder Goyal will be visiting flood-affected areas of Pathankot and Gurdaspur to oversee relief and evacuation operations. To monitor and coordinate relief measures, the state government has established a central flood control centre in Jalandhar and has roped in the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to assist district administrations and the police in rescue efforts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Ludhiana, Sangrur, Barnala, and Mansa districts, warning that intense rainfall and thunderstorms could disrupt normal activities and damage infrastructure.
Jammu reels under flood fury after record rainfall
4 people caught in flash flood rescued in Kathua Schools to remain closed across Jammu division on Tuesday 190.4 mm rainfall in 24 hrs second highest August figure in 99 years India warns Pakistan of potential downstream flooding Jammu-Pathankot bridge damaged, roads washed away Sunil Dutt Jammu Tawi, August 25: Life [] The post Jammu reels under flood fury after record rainfall appeared first on Northlines .
Three pilgrims die during Manimahesh Yatra; heavy rain forces closure of schools, roads in Himachal
CHANDIGARH: Three pilgrims died during the Manimahesh Yatra in Himachal Pradesh during the trek reportedly due to lack of oxygen. The yatra has been suspended, as this year so far 14 pilgrims have died. Due to moderate to very heavy rainfall disrupting normal life, schools and colleges in eight out of 12 districts were closed. Additionally, 685 roads, including three national highways, remained shut for traffic. Sources said the deceased have been identified as Aman and Rohit, both 18 years old from Pathankot, and Anmol (26) from Gurdaspur in Punjab. Their bodies are being brought to Bharmour for post-mortem. Teams from the Mountaineering Training Institute and the NDRF have been deployed to bring the bodies, after which they will be handed over to their families. While Aman was rescued from Kamal Kund but succumbed at Gaurikund, Rohit collapsed on the Kugti track and Anmol died at Dhanchho. Meanwhile, incessant rainfall over the past 24 hours has forced authorities to temporarily suspend the yatra. Devotees have been advised to stay at safe locations until weather conditions improve. The yatra, which began on August 17 and is scheduled to conclude on September 15, has been badly hit by adverse weather. So far, 14 pilgrims have died this year due to oxygen shortage, landslides and falling rocks. Additional District Magistrate, Bharmaur, Kuldeep Singh Rana, said that in view of the rains and landslides, the Manimahesh Yatra has been suspended. Due to the heavy rains, normal life was disrupted across the state, prompting authorities to close schools and colleges in eight of 12 districts. All government and private educational institutes, including schools and colleges (except the residential ones), were shut in Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Mandi, Kangra, Kullu, Chamba, Una and Solan districts. As a precautionary measure, all government and private educational and technical institutes, colleges, universities and anganwadis (except residential ones) will remain closed on Monday, stated the order issued by Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa. Meanwhile, 685 roads, including three national highways, remained closed for traffic. Out of these, 321 were blocked in Mandi district, 102 in adjoining Kullu and 82 in Chamba. National highway-3 (Mandi-Dharampur road), NH-154 (Mandi-Jogindernagar road) and NH-305 (Aut-Sainj) were also closed, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre. Additionally, 533 power supply transformers and 168 water supply schemes have been disrupted in the state. Between June 20 and August 24, at least 155 people have died in Himachal Pradesh in rain-related incidents, while 37 remain missing. The state has witnessed 77 flash floods, 40 cloudbursts and 80 major landslides so far. Losses due to rain-related incidents have been pegged at Rs 2,348 crore, according to the SEOC. The local meteorological office sounded a red alert predicting intense spells of rain at isolated places in Kangra and Chamba districts and urged people to stay cautious. The MeT also issued an orange warning of heavy to very heavy rain for isolated parts of the state and a yellow alert of heavy rain across Himachal till August 31. There were also reports of the season's first snow at Shipkila in the higher reaches of Lahaul and Spiti district. Thunderstorms lashed Shimla, Sundernagar, Kangra, Palampur, Jot, Murari Devi and Bhuntar, the MeT said. The state received 703.7 mm of average rainfall during the current monsoon season (June 1 to August 25) against an average of 577.9 mm an excess of 22 per cent. In August alone, the state has so far recorded 44 per cent excess rain.
Several regions, including Punjab's Pathankot, Chamoli district in Uttarakhand, and multiple districts of Himachal Pradesh, experienced continuous rainfall, forcing schools to remain shut on August 25, Monday.
SRINAGAR: The Meteorological Department has predicted more intense rainfall in the Jammu region, along with warnings of cloud burst, flash floods, mudslides, shooting stones and rockfall at vulnerable places, even as several low-lying areas in the region are already battling a flood-like situation. The heavy downpours Jammu region witnessed in recent days have also damaged a vital bridge on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway. A MeT official predicted heavy to very heavy rain at a few places in the Jammu region, including Jammu, Reasi, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua and Rajouri districts, and moderate to heavy/intense showers over Poonch, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar and the southern parts of Kashmir from August 2526. People have been advised to stay away from water bodies, nallahs, river embankments and loose structures. The MeT has also warned of waterlogging in the low-lying areas of the Jammu region. Jammu yesterday recorded 190.4 mm of rainfall, the second-highest downpour for this month in a century. The highest rainfall in Jammu for August is 228.6 mm, recorded on August 5, 1926, while the previous second-highest was 189.6 mm on August 11, 2022. The continuous downpour has created a flood-like situation in many low-lying areas of Jammu city. The incessant rains also led to the overflowing of encroached nallahs and waterlogging in several areas. Water has entered houses in many places, including Janipur, Bhawani Nagar, Naseeb Nagar, Roop Nagar, Paloura, Muthi, Sharika Vihar, Talab Tilloo and Kabir Colony in Jammu city. The bridge over Sahar Khud on the Jammu-Pathankote National Highway near Kathua has suffered extensive damage due to a flash flood triggered by heavy rains. A portion of the Old Kathua-Samba road was washed away near Sherpur due to flash floods. With the continuous downpour, water levels in major rivers and streams, including the Basantar in Samba, the Ujh and Ravi in Kathua, and the Chenab in Reasi and Akhnoor and the Tawi in Jammu, have increased significantly. This has prompted the administration to sound an alert, and disaster response teams and local police have been deployed on the ground. Forty-five students of the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) were evacuated to safety in a joint operation by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police after floodwaters submerged the ground floor of the hostel complex on Sunday. The SDRF teams have been conducting extensive disaster management operations in various areas of Jammu, following heavy rains that led to waterlogging and disruption of normal life. Equipped with specialised equipment and trained personnel, the SDRF teams have been deployed to rescue stranded people in affected areas. During the rescue operations, SDRF teams have rescued numerous people trapped in waterlogged areas, including homes, roads and residential facilities in and around Jammu city, an SDRF official said. He said SDRF teams have been deployed in different areas of Jammu, including stretches along the Tawi river at Talab Tilloo, Lower Bakshi Nagar and other locations. Due to inclement weather conditions, authorities have closed all schools in the Jammu region today. Independent weather expert Faizan Arif warned that weather conditions on Tuesday are expected to turn severe in several parts of Jammu region, with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall likely. Due to the intense rainfall, water levels in some streams and rivers may rise above the flood alarm mark, he said. He added that in the Valley, South Kashmir will bear the maximum impact, particularly its higher reaches, where heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected. The Pir Panjal mountains are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rain, increasing the risk of flash floods and raising water levels in streams and rivers downstream. Snowfall is also possible over the higher reaches of the Pir Panjal, he said. He has advised that trekking and venturing into the mountains in Jammu region and South Kashmir should be strictly avoided till Wednesday.
Heavy rains in Punjab's Pathankot; Holiday declared in educational institutions
Due to relentless rainfall, the Pathankot district administration has announced a holiday for all educational institutions. Villages near the India-Pakistan border are grappling with rising water levels in the Ujh and Ravi rivers, exacerbated by heavy rains in neighboring Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
Heavy Rains In Punjabs Pathankot; Holiday Declared In Educational Institutions
Chandigarh, Aug 25: The Pathankot district administration on Monday declared a holiday in all educational institutions in the wake of incessant rains, officials said. Several villages near the India-Pakistan border in Pathankot district of Punjab have been affected after the water level in Ujh, Ravi rivers and rivulets rose following heavy rains in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Keeping in mind the continuous rains in Pathankot district, a holiday is declared in all government/non-government schools, colleges and other educational [] The post Heavy Rains In Punjabs Pathankot; Holiday Declared In Educational Institutions appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Heavy rain creates flood like situation in Jammu; bridge damaged on NH in Kathua, traffic diverted
45 IIIM inmates rescued from submerged hostel, 300 saved in Basohli Flood water enters many localities, damages public property Gopal Sharma JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Aug 24: Heavy rain wrecked havoc in Jammu, creating flood- like situation in many areas, causing damage to the public property while a bridge over Sahar Khud on Jammu-Pathankote National Highway near Kathua was extensively damaged due to flash flood today. The massive flashflood also posed threat to the northern embankment/first pillar of the second bridge also [] The post Heavy rain creates flood like situation in Jammu; bridge damaged on NH in Kathua, traffic diverted appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Heavy rains trigger floods in J&K, Jammu-Ptk bridge damaged
IIIM students evacuated after floodwaters inundate hostel ground floor Jammu Tawi: Heavy rains battered most parts ofJammu and Kashmirovernight, triggering flood-like situation in several low-lying areas and causing damage to a vital bridge on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway, officials said. Jammurecorded 190.4 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours ending8.30 am, the second-highest downpour this [] The post Heavy rains trigger floods in J&K, Jammu-Ptk bridge damaged appeared first on Northlines .
Torrential Rains Trigger Flood-Like Situation In J&K, Bridge On Jammu-Pathankot Highway Damaged
Jammu recorded 190.4 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours ending 8.30 am, the second-highest downpour this month in a century.
Torrential Rains Batter J&K, Bridge Snapped on Jammu-Pathankot Highway
Jammu/Srinagar, Aug 24: Heavy overnight rains battered wide parts of Jammu and Kashmir, bringing normal life to a standstill, flooding low-lying areas, damaging property, and snapping road connectivity at several places. Officials said Jammu recorded 190.4 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours ending 8:30 am the second-highest August rainfall in nearly a century, [] The post Torrential Rains Batter J&K, Bridge Snapped on Jammu-Pathankot Highway appeared first on Northlines .
Heavy Rains Pound Wide Parts Of J&K, Bridge Damaged On Jammu-Pathankot Highway
Jammu/Srinagar, Aug 24: Heavy rains battered most parts of Jammu and Kashmir overnight, triggering flood-like situation in several low-lying areas and causing damage to a vital bridge on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway, officials said. The winter capital Jammu recorded 190.4 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours ending 8.30 am, the second-highest downpour this month in a century. The highest rainfall for August remains 228.6 mm, logged on August 5, 1926 while the previous second-highest was 189.6 mm on August [] The post Heavy Rains Pound Wide Parts Of J&K, Bridge Damaged On Jammu-Pathankot Highway appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
At least 1 dead and several injured after a bus carrying pilgrims to the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi falls off the Jammu-Pathankot highway into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district on August 21.
1 Dead, 39 Injured As Bus Carrying Vaishno Devi Pilgrims Falls In J&K Gorge
A bus carrying pilgrims to the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi skidded off the Jammu-Pathankot highway and fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district on Thursday, leaving one person dead and 39 others injured, officials said.
A devastating cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district has claimed seven lives, triggering landslides and flash floods. The deluge washed away roads, damaged homes, and disrupted train services on the Jammu-Pathankot line. Rescue operations are underway, with the Army, NDRF, and SDRF assisting victims.
Punjabs Rs 12,700 crore NH projects stalled; Rs 828 crore PMGSY road works scrapped over delays
CHANDIGARH: Multiple key road infrastructure projects in Punjab including major national highway developments and those under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY), are facing serious setbacks, with no clear timeline for completion. As many as sixteen national highway projects worth 12,700 crore, being implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Punjab Public Works Department (PWD), have either been stalled, significantly delayed, or face termination. The primary reasons cited are land acquisition hurdles and delays in obtaining statutory clearances. Simultaneously, rural road development has also taken a hit. Projects under PMGSY-III worth 828.87 crore, involving the upgradation of 64 roads and construction of 38 bridges, have been scrapped due to the state governments failure to float tenders and commence construction on time. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, in a written reply to Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, confirmed that eight projects are being executed by NHAI and another eight by the state PWD, all of which have encountered delays or stoppages. Projects in the state of Punjab are mainly delayed, stalled, or terminated due to land acquisition issues and delay in obtaining statutory clearances. The government is taking requisite measures, in consultation with stakeholders including the state government, to resolve these issues, the Minister stated in Parliament. Key Affected Projects Under NHAI DelhiAmritsarKatra Expressway (Spur-II): 30.5 km stretch worth 2,197.17 crore terminated due to lack of land; fresh bids to be invited once land is acquired. DelhiAmritsarKatra Expressway (Spur-III): 28.07 km stretch worth 1,951.70 crore delayed, now scheduled for completion by 30 November 2026. AmritsarBathinda (Package-I): 39 km project worth 1,229.38 crore, originally set to finish by November 2024, now delayed until 31 December 2026. AmritsarGhomanTandaUna (Package-I): 45.73 km stretch worth 1,443.47 crore also delayed, with a new completion target of 30 June 2026. Package-II of this corridor (31.05 km, 818.41 crore) has been terminated due to land issues. The LudhianaRupnagar corridor has also been severely affected: Package-I (37.7 km, 1,368.91 crore): Work halted after the contractor issued a termination notice over delayed land handover; matter is under review by a Conciliation Committee. Package-II (47.24 km, 1,488.23 crore): Terminated for similar reasons; re-tendering will occur post land possession. Projects Delayed Under Punjab PWD JalandharHoshiarpur (NH-3, 39.13 km): Sanctioned for 1,069.59 crore, awarded in 2017, now facing termination due to persistent land acquisition delays. Widening of a 3.57 km stretch of same highway (15.04 crore): Facing right-of-way constraints; revised completion date: 30 November 2025. MakhuArifke (NH-703A, 24.6 km): Worth 192.48 crore, including two ROBs, now rescheduled to finish by 31 December 2025 (original deadline was May 2021). ROB at Fazilka (NH-07, 38.02 crore): Delayed due to pending railway clearances, now progressing with a target completion date of 31 October 2025. ArifkeFerozepurMuktsarMalout (NH-354, 63.27 km, 263.19 crore): Delayed due to NOCs from the Irrigation Department and land issues. Muktsar SahibMalout section (27.66 km, 152.58 crore): Toll plaza construction stalled; PWD advised to redesign within available land. PMGSY Projects Worth 828 Crore Scrapped Road and bridge projects sanctioned under PMGSY-III have been scrapped due to the Punjab governments inability to initiate work before the required deadline of 31 March. The Centre had sanctioned 64 rural roads (628.48 km) and 38 bridges (each over 15 metres in length) for a total of 828.87 crore. Some of these were located in sensitive border districts such as Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, and Tarn Taran. In correspondence with the Union Ministry of Rural Development, Punjabs PWD stated that many of these roads were recommended for urgent repairs by Members of Parliament and were of utmost importance. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan requesting reconsideration, stating that without these bridges, the completed roads would be of little use. However, the Centre responded that only projects tendered and already under construction by the original March 2025 deadline now extended to March 2026 would be allowed to continue. Works which have started on the ground but are not feasible to continue further shall be foreclosed, the Ministry clarified. Sources revealed that 59 of the roadworks were to be implemented using Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) technology, for which very few consultancy firms in India have adequate expertise another contributing factor to the delays. With Punjabs road infrastructure plans facing widespread disruption, the delays pose serious questions over administrative efficiency, land management, and inter-agency coordination at both the state and central levels.
CHANDIGARH: Punjab has recorded a staggering rise of more than one lakh dog bite cases in the last five years, with daily averages now touching 882 incidents. The state, which has around 6.5 lakh dogs, including over three lakh stray dogs, has witnessed a sharp increase in cases, with officials warning of the public health risks. In the first seven months of this year alone, a total of 1.88 lakh dog bite cases have been reported, while last years total stood at 2.13 lakh. The worst affected districts are Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala. As per the official data accessed by this newspaper from the state health department, between January and July this year, Amritsar district recorded the highest number of cases at 29,504, followed by Ludhiana (21,777), Patiala (14,120), Jalandhar (12,349), Hoshiarpur (10,920) and SAS Nagar (9,860). There has been a steady jump in incidents over the past five years, 1.10 lakh cases in 2020, 1.26 lakh in 2021, 1.65 lakh in 2022, 2.02 lakh in 2023, and 2.13 lakh in 2024, reflecting a rise of more than one lakh cases during the period. This year, three deaths have been reported. Last month, a mother and daughter allegedly died of rabies in Pathankot, and on July 17, a 32-year-old man succumbed in Patiala after being bitten by a stray dog. An analysis of data from 2020 to 2024 shows Jalandhar district has recorded the highest total of 1.12 lakh cases over the four years, followed by Ludhiana (99,678), Patiala (63,782), Hoshiarpur (56,113), SAS Nagar (55,286) and Amritsar (44,249). Stray dogs in Delhi: SC slams local authorities for inaction, reserves order According to the 2019 animal census conducted by the state animal husbandry department, there were 2.90 lakh stray dogs and 3.32 lakh pet dogs in Punjab. The latest animal census has been completed this year but is yet to be notified. There has been an increase of 5 per cent in the dog population in the state after the last census, said an official. Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh said vaccination for dog bites is available at all community health centres (CHCs) and treatment has now been extended to all Aam Aadmi Clinics across the state. The people should immediately rush to the nearest government health centres for treatment, which is free, and should not ignore it at all, he added. The health department is yet to issue standard operating procedures (SOPs) for government doctors, whose diagnosis will determine compensation for dog bite cases. Although SOPs have been formulated, they have not been circulated. A five-member committee was constituted following an order from the Punjab and Haryana High Court last year, which announced compensation of Rs 10,000 for each tooth mark and Rs 20,000 for every 0.2 cm of wound where the flesh is torn off, said sources. A veterinary expert said that in 50 per cent of dog bite cases, the culprit is a pet dog biting its owner or someone else, not a stray. However, the general perception remains that stray dogs are primarily responsible. Sources added that the animal birth control (ABC) programme to sterilise dogs has been outsourced to private agencies by most municipalities under the local bodies department, but it has not achieved the desired results, particularly in major cities. Sterilisation is the only scientific method to control the stray dog population and thus, in turn, can reduce dog bite incidents, said a senior officer on condition of anonymity. It was also pointed out that there are few dog shelters in large municipalities across the state for post-animal care under the birth control set-up, and no dedicated dog pounds exist.
Gauge conversion of Pathankot-Jogindernagar heritage rail line under survey: Vaishnaw
DHARAMSHALA (HP), Aug 11 : The historic 200-kilometre-long Pathankot-Jogindernagar narrow-gauge railway line, a heritage marvel of the Kangra Valley, is set for modernisation with efforts underway to convert it to broad gauge. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a response to Rajya Sabha MP Indu Bala Goswami, informed that the survey work for the gauge conversion is currently in progress. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being prepared and will be shared with the Himachal Pradesh government once completed for [] The post Gauge conversion of Pathankot-Jogindernagar heritage rail line under survey: Vaishnaw appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
PM flags off Katra-Amritsar Vande Bharat after freight train arrives in Anantnag
NEW DELHI: A day after the first freight train arrived in south Kashmirs Anantnag district from Punjab, PM Narendra Modi flagged off the Amritsar-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express train virtually from Bengaluru. The trains will boost tourism, commerce and connectivity, the PM said. The high-speed Vande Bharat train is expected to significantly enhance regional connectivity, reduce travel time and provide a world-class travel experience to the passengers. Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu said the new high-speed train will not only facilitate spiritual travel for devotees but will also boost tourism and trade between Katra and Amritsar. He emphasised that the modern and comfortable travel experience offered by the Vande Bharat will benefit passengers travelling to and from the region. The passengers boarding from Pathankot, Jalandhar and Beas would also benefit. The high-speed train would operate six days a week, excluding Tuesdays. The new Amritsar-Katra Vande Bharat Express, launched today, will depart Katra at 6.40am and reach Amritsar by 12.20pm, stopping at Jammu Tawi, Pathankot Cantt, Jalandhar City, and Beas. The return journey leaves Amritsar at 4.25pm and arrives in Katra by 10pm, allowing same-day round trips for pilgrims and tourists. Equipped with modern features like automatic doors, onboard Wi-Fi, infotainment screens, reclining seats, bio-vacuum toilets, GPS tracking, and the Kavach safety system, the train ensures both comfort and safety. With this launch, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir now each have five Vande Bharat trains (10 services in total). Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, while expressing gratitude to PM Modi, said the new Vande Bharat train will ensure ease of travel for devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi and spur the growth momentum of the local economy. The freight train has arrived at the right time. It will help in the timely delivery of horticulture produce from Kashmir, KCCI president Javed Ahmed Tenga said.
PM Modi to flag off Katra-Amritsar Vande Bharat train today
New Delhi, Aug 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually flag off Vande Bharat Train tomorrow between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station of Jammu Division of Northern Railway and Amritsar Railway Station of Ferozepur Division via Jammu-Pathankot-Jalandhar Vyas, officials here today said. The train service will be connecting two religious towns of Amritsar [] The post PM Modi to flag off Katra-Amritsar Vande Bharat train today appeared first on Northlines .
HC orders 4-week interim stay on Punjab land pooling policy; seeks clarity on rehab provisions
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has put a four-week interim stay on the implementation of the controversial land pooling policy of the Punjab Government. The court made clear its intent to stay the policy after the government refused to withdraw it. The division bench of Justice Anupinder Grewal and Justice Deepak Manchanda also gave the state four weeks time after hearing detailed arguments for about two hours. We will stay the policy and give you time to address the concerns, the court said. The state has also been directed to inform the court whether a social impact assessment was carried out before notifying the policy. The court reiterated its concerns regarding the lack of provision for the rehabilitation of landless labourers and others dependent on land for their sustenance. It also questioned the government for not conducting the compulsory social impact assessment before identifying the land to be acquired. Earlier, the petitioner Gurdeep Singh Gill had contended that the policy was an act of colourable legislation, allegedly framed under a Central law that contained no enabling provision for such a scheme. His counsel Gurjeet Singh Gill, Manan Kheterpal, Manat Kaur, Rahul Jadge, and Rajat Verma also sought directions for quashing the notification and the policy as ultra vires, arbitrary, and violative of Articles 14, 19(1)(g), and 21 read with Article 300-A of the Constitution. After the hearing, Gurjeet Singh, lawyer of Gill, said that neither a social impact assessment nor any environment-related assessment was carried out under the land pooling policy. That no such social impact assessment report was either prepared or published, as per the provisions of law. Moreover, none of the gram panchayats or gram sabhas were approached or consulted by the respondents before bringing the Land Pooling Policy 2025, which is a clear disregard of the provisions mandated under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, said the petition. It further added that since there was no such provision of law under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, to frame the Land Pooling Policy 2025, there lies no mechanism or forum to challenge such a policy and the petitioner is left with no remedy to redress his grievance. On August 6, the court asked the Punjab government whether there was any provision in the policy for the rehabilitation of landless labourers for their sustenance. The Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government has been facing flak from opposition parties and various farmer unions, which have termed the policy a looting scheme to rob the farmers of their fertile land. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced a state-wide yatra titled Save Land, Save Farmers, from August 17 to September 5. BJPs state Vice President Kewal Singh Dhillon said that during this yatra, BJP Punjab will go village-to-village creating awareness among farmers against this scheme and mobilising them. Backlash grows over Punjab's land pooling policy as AAP faces internal revolt in CM Manns constituency It will meet the farmers who are already aware and struggling, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder, will support them, he said. The yatra will kick off on August 17 from Patiala and pass through villages in the Malwa, Majha, and Doaba regions affected by the land pooling plan, culminating in Pathankot on September 5. Also, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has announced the launch of an indefinite Morcha from September 1. Party President Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the Morcha is dedicated to safeguarding Punjabs farmers, khet mazdoor, traders, and other sections of Punjabi society. He also announced that the party was unanimous in its decision to revoke the land pooling scheme after taking over the reins of the state in 2027, in case the AAP government persisted with its nefarious designs. We will hand over the entire acquired land back to the farmers after forming a special law for the purpose, in the same manner in which the land on which the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal was handed back to the original owners by Parkash Singh Badal in 2016, he said. Badal will lead the first Jatha on September 1 from Amb Sahib Gurudwara in Mohali and march to the new Sheesh Mahal at the nearby Panchayat Bhawan. Party workers from each constituency in Punjab will subsequently participate in a continuous dharna and march from the same site in Jathas of 500 persons each, indefinitely, till the AAP government revokes the land pooling scheme. A three-member coordinating committee comprising Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, N. K. Sharma, and Mohali district president Parminder Singh Sohana has also been formed for this purpose. Punjabs land pooling policy challenged in High Court as activists flag environmental concern
APS Akhnoor clinches Bronze at CBSE Cluster XVIII U-14 Basketball Tourney
Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Aug 6: Army Public School (APS) Akhnoor has brought pride to the institution by clinching the Bronze Medal in the CBSE Cluster XVIII Under-14 Boys Basketball Tournament (2025-26), held at BCM School, Ludhiana (Punjab). The prestigious tournament featured 18 top schools from across the region. APS Akhnoor kicked off the tournament with a dominant 28-20 victory over Montgomery GNP School, Jalandhar, followed by an impressive 24-08 win against Pratap World School, Pathankot in the quarterfinals, securing [] The post APS Akhnoor clinches Bronze at CBSE Cluster XVIII U-14 Basketball Tourney appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
