Panjab, a grain bowl in the country, fights with one of the worst floods in decades that has influenced almost four Lakh people, claimed 48 lives, affected about 2,000 villages, and resulted in an estimated loss of over 13,000 crore.
While heavy rains and overflowing rivers remain primary triggers, experts and official evaluation that human interventions, including blocked drainage systems, intervention in natural water channels and unregulated construction activities such as laying roads, have worsened crisis.
Pandjáb witnessed large floods in 2023, 2019, 2013, 2010, 2008 and 2004. Each monsoon, which brings almost 75% of the annual collisions of the state, causes loss of life and extensive damage to crops, houses and public services. This year, the rivers are Sutlej, Ravi and Beas in a lot, immersion of agricultural land, roads and low -lying areas. With weeks of unpeeled harvests, standing crops were destroyed, which combined losses to farmers and rural economies. The impact has deteriorated significant losses of livestock.
Human factors
According to official estimates, crops were damaged over 1.72 Lakh hectares across 18 of the 23 districts of the pandjab. Minister of Finance Harpal Singh Cheema called it the worst flood in five decades.
“More than 22,000 people have been evacuated. The final report on the damage may be prepared after the flood retreats, but the Union government should immediately free up waiting fees in the state of 60 000 GBP, among other financial assistance,” he said.
The guide to the water source 2024 flood emphasizes heavy monsoon rain as the most common cause of floods, but also underlines artificial factors. He warns that physical barriers prevent natural drains, while unregulated development, including the construction along the banks of the river, prevents water flow. The report also notes that while tanks and waterfronts have alleviated the flood risks to Beas, Sutlej and Ravi, the threats persist due to severe release from the tanks and also by breaking the waterfront.
The Minister of Agriculture of the Union Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused illegal mining during the visit of the State 4. September. “When (late) Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister and (late) Prakash Singh Badal was the main minister, embankments along Sutlej, Beas, Ravi and Ghaggar were strengthened and raised to protect crops from floods. The Minister of Finance dismissed Mr. Chouhan’s claims and called him a “obvious manifestation of bias” against the pandjab.
Neglect
Experts say that unregulated construction and mining have intensified the vulnerability of the state.
SK SALUJA, a former main engineer with the Ranjit Sagar and Shahpurcandi dams, said, “Profession through settlements near the river and rivulet has been taking place for years. Subsequent governments could not control them.”
Construction work carried out in an unscientific manner also prevents water flow, said Mr. Saluja, adding that uncontrollable sand mining in the rolling rounds is a huge problem in the panda.
Since the beginning of the monsoon 24 June, the state received 591.8 mm of precipitation, 53% above the normal, according to the Indian meteorological department (IMD). The current floods are compared with the 1988 floods, when more than 500 people lost their lives.
“A matter of concern”
Surender Paul, scientist and director of IMD in Chandigarh, said the impact of climate change is obvious.
“Changing the weather patterns is visible due to climate change. In the last decade, the panda has become inconsistent in Pandjab. The monsoon is not uniform, which is a matter,” Paul said.
KLIMA expert Tymy Dutt, administrator of Mausam (progress movement in understanding and reciprocity), he told the Hindes that global warming directly intensifies the rain.
“Global warming is the primary driving factor for heavy rains in Pandjab and the northern region. The Arabian Sea is heated unusually, bringing greater humidity. This is new normal,” Dutta said.
She added that the control of the hydropower dams must be improved.
Published – 8 September 2025 01:08 IS
