Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has reached Delhi. He left from Kapurthala House in Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The meeting is expected to last for about half an hour. He will brief Shah about the damage caused by the floods in Punjab.

He will also demand relaxation in the rules of the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF). Punjab Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha and other officials were with the Chief Minister.

However, Chief Minister Mann had been repeatedly requesting to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier too. However, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) did not give him time. A resolution condemning the PMO was also passed in the special session called for the floods.

When Modi came to Punjab, the Chief Minister was in the hospital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the flood-affected areas of Punjab on September 9. However, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was ill at that time, so he could not meet the Prime Minister. Opposition parties also raised the issue. However, BJP leaders are also raising the question that if the Chief Minister was ill, then his number two minister, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema, should have gone to meet the Prime Minister. However, the Punjab government sent Minister Hardeep Mundian.

Punjab Chief Minister's two main demands from the Centre

A package of Rs 20,000 crore should be given: Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann says that Punjab has suffered a loss of Rs 20,000 crore in the floods. Therefore, this package should be given to the state. However, after his visit to Punjab, Prime Minister Modi announced a compensation of Rs 1,600 crore. The Prime Minister said that Rs 12,000 crore is already lying with the state in the SDRF.

Relaxation in SDRF rules: Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann says that the compensation fixed under the SDRF rules is very low. The Punjab government wants to give compensation of up to Rs 50,000 per acre to farmers. The Chief Minister also said in the session on Monday that compensation for 26% to 33% crop loss is being increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000, and for 33% to 75% crop loss from Rs 6,800 to Rs 10,000. For 75% to 100% crop loss, assistance of Rs 6,800 can be provided from the SDRF fund, which is being increased to Rs 20,000. This is possible only if the SDRF rules are relaxed; otherwise, the government will add an additional amount.

Worst flood in the state since 1988, what has the central government done so far?

The Punjab government says that the state has witnessed a flood worse than the 1988 flood, which has affected all 23 districts. The floods have affected about 3.89 lakh people, out of whom 59 have died. In addition, 2 lakh acres of crops have been damaged.

The Home Minister took stock of the situation over the phone.

As soon as the flood was reported, NDRF and Army teams were sent for rescue operations. About 25 helicopters were engaged in rescue operations. During the floods, on September 1, Home Minister Shah called Chief Minister Mann to inquire about the flood situation. The Prime Minister returned from his foreign tour on September 2 and inquired about the situation from the Chief Minister.

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Three teams also reached Punjab to assess the damage.

On September 5, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited Punjab. Meanwhile, three central teams also reached Punjab to assess the damage. On September 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Punjab. He met farmers and Punjab ministers in Gurdaspur. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister announced a relief package of ₹1,600 crore for Punjab.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Punjab today (15 September). He met flood victims at different places in Amritsar and Gurdaspur. Rahul stayed in Punjab for about 6 and a half hours. While talking about the damage caused by the flood in Ghonewal village of Amritsar, a child started crying, whom Rahul Gandhi pacified by taking him in his lap.

After this, Rahul Gandhi also visited the affected areas in Gurdaspur on a tractor. Due to security reasons, he did not go to the villages adjacent to the Pak border. He did not talk to the media during his visit. At 4 pm he left for Delhi from Pathankot.

After the visit, Rahul Gandhi wrote on X (formerly Twitter) - "The floods have caused massive devastation in Punjab. Today I met the villagers in Ghonewal - destroyed homes, ruined fields, shattered lives. The pain is clearly visible in the eyes, but the courage is unwavering.

Both the state and central governments should ensure that the relief package and compensation reaches the victims without delay, who need it the most at this time. I stand with every affected family in this tragedy. I will raise their voice and it is my resolve to provide them all possible help."

2,097 villages in 23 districts have been affected by the floods in Punjab, and crops in about 1,91,926 hectares have been submerged. 52 people have lost their lives in 15 districts.

6 days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Punjab and announced to give Rs 1,600 crore to Punjab in view of the situation. This package was described as inadequate by the Bhagwant Mann government.

Saw submerged crops and broken houses in Amritsar

Rahul Gandhi reached Amritsar airport at around 9.30 am on Monday. First of all, he went to Ghonewal village in Amritsar. Here he met the people affected by the flood and took stock of the submerged crops and broken houses. He also paid obeisance at Gurdwara Beed Baba Budha Sahib.

After this, Rahul Gandhi reached Gurchakk village in Gurdaspur, where he visited the place where fields and houses were submerged due to the dam breaking. He met the farmers and then rode a tractor to reach his car parked half a kilometer away.

Did not go to 7 villages adjacent to the Pak border

After this, he met the flood victims in Dinanagar. Met the people in Makoda Pattan village. Rahul also had to go to 7 villages adjacent to the Pakistan border, but due to security reasons, the officials advised him not to go further, after which Rahul Gandhi went back.

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Along with Rahul, Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Punjab Congress in-charge Bhupesh Baghel and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Pratap Singh Bajwa were also present.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann was on a visit to Ferozepur today. During this, he took stock of the flood-affected areas. He took stock of the crops and houses of the people. During this, the CM himself became emotional after listening to the pain of the people.

He assured the people that the government will help them in every possible way. At the same time, he said that we have asked for our 60 thousand crore rupees from the Center. He has made it clear that we are not begging from the Center, but asking for our rights.

Punjab always stands with the country

The CM said that Punjab is called the food bowl of the country. Whatever situation has come, Punjab has always stood with the country. Be it the freedom struggle or the Green Revolution or any other fight. But today Punjab is going through a time of crisis. Just as Punjab has always stood for the country and today Punjab is in crisis, it is expected that the country will also stand with Punjab.

The army provided 20 helicopters

The CM said that I am asking for Punjab's rights, not begging. PM ​​Sahab and the Home Minister had called. They have taken stock of the entire situation. Even at this time, people are sitting on the roofs of their houses and bridges, but are not ready to leave their homes. In this hour of trouble, the army has provided 20 helicopters, for which I thank the Indian Army.

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All three dams are completely safe

The CM said that so far Ranjit Singh Sagar Dam, Pong and Bhakra Dam are safe. If water does not come from above, the situation will improve. I cannot tell Himachal to stop the water. Because water has a natural flow. We will compensate the farmers. They will be given compensation. The issue of desilting etc. will be raised with the Center.