In villages around Ramdass and Ajnala — including Ghonewal, Jassar, Sudhaar, and Sufiyan — 12 drones are in operation. With a range of 5 km, these drones carry food, water, medicines, and even animal feed directly to households. Each drone can lift up to 10 kg and serves nearly 100 families daily.

Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said drones are being used for three key tasks — mapping flooded areas, broadcasting safety messages, and dropping relief materials. Farmers’ agricultural drones, once used for spraying fields, are now saving lives.

Residents expressed gratitude, saying drones replaced the fear of drugs with the gift of survival. This mission is supported by Punjab Police, NDRF, Army, BSF, and private partners. For many, drones are now symbols of resilience and unity in crisis.

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Sisodia said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has agreed to bring a policy on this issue. Mann, who is in a Mohali hospital, will allow farmers to extract sand without delay. “If sand remains in the fields, crops will not grow,” Sisodia said.

He added that farmers will also be free to sell the sand. This will give them an extra source of income while recovering from crop losses.

Sisodia also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release the “pending” ₹60,000 crore relief fund. He said Punjab needs urgent financial support. Modi is visiting the flood-hit state on September 9, and Sisodia hopes the Centre will announce strong measures for the people.

The post Punjab Farmers to Get Relief with Sand Extraction Policy appeared first on India Podcast.

AAP leader and Punjab affairs in-charge Manish Sisodia shared this update in a press conference. The move comes as lakhs of acres have become uncultivable due to heavy deposits of sand and silt brought by the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers. Farmers already struggling with huge losses will get some financial relief from selling the sand.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who is recovering from a bacterial infection in a Mohali hospital, will attend the Cabinet meeting via video call. Sisodia said the CM is concerned about the massive damage to crops like paddy, cotton, maize, and sugarcane across 4.3 lakh acres.

Farmers from Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur told Sisodia that selling the sand is the only way to recover losses. The CM has agreed to make policy changes quickly so that farmers can extract and sell sand from their fields without delay.

The post Punjab Govt to Let Farmers Sell Flood Sand appeared first on India Podcast.

Jakhar blamed illegal mining for weakening river embankments. At Ghonewal village, residents told him the Dhussi bund broke because miners, backed by politicians, damaged it. When officials were asked when the embankment was last fortified, they admitted it had not happened recently. Jakhar said timely repairs could have reduced losses.

He criticised the irrigation minister for promising foolproof arrangements but failing to act. “Preparatory meetings never took place. Floods come every year, yet no one prepared,” he said.

Jakhar estimated that four lakh acres of farmland are under water, with crop damage close to 100 percent. From paddy to sugarcane, farmers face total loss. He urged the Centre to provide a comprehensive relief package and to consider new check dams and stronger embankments.

Despite the devastation, Jakhar praised Punjabis for showing generosity, saying their unity brings hope in this crisis.

The post Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar Slams State Govt Over Flood Mismanagement appeared first on India Podcast.

He stated that Punjab’s rivers, once a blessing, had now become a curse because of poor planning and mismanagement. “This is not destiny, it is a man-made disaster and a government failure,” Sidhu said. He added that while politicians fed their greed, Punjab continued to face the brunt of floods.

According to Sidhu, the crisis has deep roots in chronic mismanagement of river systems and weak governance. He pointed to illegal mining and unchecked siltation as the main reasons behind the rising water levels. Sidhu urged that Punjab needed urgent corrective measures before the situation worsened further.

The Congress leader’s statement has added fuel to the political debate, with questions now being raised about accountability and long-term planning to prevent such disasters in the future.

The post Punjab Floods a Man-Made Disaster: Navjot Singh Sidhu appeared first on India Podcast.

The AAP party, ministers, MLAs, and Seechewal’s volunteers are working together to provide relief. Sisodia praised the spirit of Punjab, calling it “Punjabiyat,” where people selflessly help each other in tough times. He said the joint efforts of the state government and society are bringing immediate relief to affected families.

While relief continues, he noted the real challenge will begin once the floodwaters recede. Preparations are already underway to support rehabilitation and long-term safety. The state government will also seek expert advice from Seechewal to prevent future floods.

Seechewal raised the concerns of debt-ridden farmers, requesting relief on bank dues. Sisodia promised that the matter would be taken up with the state government for consideration.

The post AAP’s Sisodia: Punjab Govt Fully Prepared for Flood Aftermath appeared first on India Podcast.

Since August 1, twelve districts have faced floods. Heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir forced the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers to overflow. Seasonal rivulets also swelled, adding to the disaster. Continuous rainfall in Punjab worsened the crisis.

Rescue teams have moved 15,688 people to safer places. Gurdaspur led with 5,549 rescues, followed by Ferozepur (3,321), Fazilka (2,049), and Amritsar (1,700). In all, 1,044 villages remain flooded. Amritsar reported the highest impact with 35,000 people affected, followed by Ferozepur (24,015) and Fazilka (21,562).

The floods damaged 96,061 hectares of farmland. Livestock losses are also heavy, though numbers will be clear after water recedes. Damage to roads and buildings is yet to be assessed.

Relief work continues with 20 NDRF teams, supported by SDRF, the Army, and Punjab Police. They are working day and night to protect lives and property.

The post Punjab Floods Leave 29 Dead, 2.56 lakh people impacted in one month appeared first on India Podcast.