AJNALA: Despite inclement weather and continuous rain this evening, Punjab Governor Shri Gulab Chand Kataria made a high-profile visit to the Ravi river and Saki drain areas in Ajnala constituency, which have recently suffered catastrophic floods.
He also. visited the relief camp set up at village Chamiyari by the district administration to interact with flood-affected people and assess the ongoing relief efforts. In an informal meeting attended by administrative and army officials, as well as local residents and community leaders, constituency MLA and former Cabinet Minister Sardar Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal highlighted the sufferings of local residents who have endured nature’s fury for the past seven days.
During this meeting, Sardar Dhaliwal formally welcomed Governor Kataria, stating that the people of Ajnala always looked forward to warmly hosting him for his noble initiatives against drugs and other social evils in Punjab. However, due to the widespread devastation caused by the floods, the residents could only offer a formal welcome at this time...
Dhaliwal then presented a memorandum on behalf of flood-affected people, explaining that the Ajnala Assembly segment, located along a 49-kilometer stretch of the India–Pakistan international border, often suffers from the ravages of the Ravi river’s floodwaters. Residents here, both rural and semi-urban, must frequently endure consequences not only of natural calamities, but also the dangers posed by cross-border plots, with Pakistan’s attempts to smuggle drugs, weapons, and infiltrators using drones.
Dhaliwal stated that, in cooperation with BSF, Punjab Police, and the civil administration, people here work as the second line of defense to safeguard national security and integrity. He recounted how, during the wars of 1965, 1971, Kargil in 1999, and during Operation Sindoor, the people of this border belt stood like a rock with BSF soldiers to foil enemy designs. In the memorandum, it was made clear that in the past week, the floods in the Ravi river have been even more devastating than those in 1988, causing unprecedented destruction after 38 years of hard-earned development and social, economic, and infrastructural growth. Key sectors such as agriculture, livestock, small businesses, health, education, roads, embankments, bridges, and local infrastructure built with both official grants and private resources have suffered immense losses.
Dhaliwal told the Governor that as a result of these floods, the peace-loving people of the region have suffered a financial loss estimated at around ₹2, 000 crore and some precious lives have also been lost. He appealed to Governor Kataria that the central government should declare this massive flood destruction as a national natural disaster and, under the ‘Sabka Saath–Sabka Vikas’ mission, immediately release a minimum relief package of ₹2, 000 crore for rehabilitation of the flood victims in Ajnala as a first step. Sardar Dhaliwal expressed hope that, with the Governor’s influence, this demand would be forwarded to the central government, and relief would quickly reach the affected people.