Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene and sanction a special relief package for the state, citing massive damage caused by the unprecedented floods during this year’s monsoon. Mann highlighted the widespread losses affecting millions, emphasising that the assistance announced so far was insufficient in view of the scale of devastation.
Bhagwant Mann met Amit Shah in Delhi and apprised him of the flood impact, requesting additional funds for disaster relief and restoration. A statement from the Union Home Ministry said Amit Shah assured the chief minister that the PM Modi-led government stands shoulder to shoulder with Punjab and is committed to providing all possible help to the affected people.
The ministry also noted that under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), Punjab has sufficient funds of Rs 12,589.59 crore, which can be used for relief and immediate restoration according to government norms.
The central government has already provided assistance through various agencies for search, rescue, and initial restoration operations during the floods.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Punjab on September 9, 2025, to review the situation and assess the damages firsthand. Of the Rs 1,600 crore announced by the Prime Minister for flood relief, Rs 805 crore has already been released, including Rs 170 crore sanctioned by the National Highways Authority of India, while the remainder will be disbursed upon receipt of relevant information from the state.
An Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) was constituted on September 1, 2025, and conducted on-the-spot assessments of affected areas from September 4 to 6. However, the state government is yet to submit a detailed memorandum, which will be considered by the Centre according to established norms.
Punjab can also prepare a comprehensive recovery and reconstruction plan for restoring livelihoods and damaged infrastructure. The Home Ministry has issued guidelines for Recovery and Reconstruction (R&R) funding under SDRF and NDRF since August 14, 2024, emphasising the need for a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) in consultation with the State or National Disaster Management Authority.
During the meeting, Mann stressed that the Rs 1,600 crore relief package announced by the Centre was insufficient in light of the massive losses. According to the Punjab government, over 20 lakh people across 2,614 villages were affected, with 6.87 lakh displaced.
More than 4.8 lakh acres of crops were destroyed, over 17,000 houses damaged, and 2.5 lakh livestock affected. The floods also damaged 4,657 km of rural roads, 485 bridges, 1,417 culverts, and 190 mandis. The preliminary estimate of losses across agriculture, infrastructure, health, education, and livelihoods stands at Rs 13,832 crore.
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