The worst-hit districts include Amritsar (1,515 acres), Ferozepur (1,101 acres), Gurdaspur (544 acres), and Nawanshahr (539 acres). Most of the damaged areas were privately owned farmland lying close to old riverbeds, where land is cheap but flood-prone. In many places, rivers have shifted their course by almost 100 feet every decade, eating into cultivated land.

Illegal mining in riverbeds worsened the erosion, officials admit. Affected farmers will get Rs 19,000 per acre compensation, but the land may remain uncultivable for three to four years due to deep craters. Officials say such massive land loss has not been seen in 40 years of Punjab’s history.

The post 5,300 Acres of Land Washed Away in 15 Districts appeared first on India Podcast.

Punjab is facing one of its worst disasters. Almost one-third of the state is under water. Farmland has been destroyed, homes submerged, and thousands displaced. SAD called it a “man-made tragedy” caused by government negligence.

Harsimrat Kaur, Bathinda MP and the party’s only voice in Parliament, said neither government helped Punjab in any meaningful way. She added that leaders failed to stand with the people during the crisis.

In a post on X, SAD said people in Punjab are angry and upset. The party noted that the Centre continues with the Vice-Presidential poll while Punjabis suffer. To show solidarity, SAD announced its boycott.

Other parties have also stepped back. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is skipping the election, citing poor support for Telangana farmers. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has chosen to remain neutral, keeping distance from both NDA and INDIA bloc.

The contest is between Justice (Retd) B Sudershan Reddy, supported by INDIA bloc, and NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan. The Vice-President’s post fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned citing health reasons.

The post SAD Boycotts V-P Election Over Flood Relief Negligence appeared first on India Podcast.

According to disaster management authorities, nearly 3.55 lakh people have been directly affected. Vast stretches of farmland—around 175,216 hectares of standing crops—are under water, raising fears of huge losses for farmers just ahead of the harvest season.

The state government has declared Punjab a disaster-hit state, placing all key departments on emergency duty. Public Works, Water Resources, Power, and Health teams are working around the clock to restore connectivity, electricity, and essential supplies. Telecom providers have been instructed to ensure stable networks so that rescue operations remain uninterrupted.

The situation worsened after heavy inflows into the Bhakra Dam, which has reached close to its danger mark. Authorities were forced to release more than 80,000 cusecs of water into the Sutlej River, causing fresh flooding in low-lying areas of Ferozepur and Fazilka. Several villages have been cut off, prompting large-scale evacuations.

With crops destroyed, villages submerged, and thousands displaced, Punjab now faces a dual challenge: immediate relief for flood victims and long-term measures to strengthen flood management. Officials said assessments are ongoing to finalize compensation packages for affected families and farmers.

The post 37 Dead in Punjab Floods, 3.55 Lakh Affected, Crops Submerged appeared first on India Podcast.