In brief
In Punjab, India, severe flooding has resulted in at least 30 fatalities and impacted more than 354,000 people. All 23 districts in the state are affected as rivers swell beyond safe levels. Authorities have launched extensive rescue operations, evacuating thousands and establishing relief camps. The floods are being described as the worst since 1988, prompting calls for assistance from the federal government.
At least 30 people have died and more than 354,000 have been affected by incessant heavy rains and floods in the north Indian state of Punjab.
Authorities have declared all of the state's 23 districts flood-hit, after rivers and reservoirs swelled to near-danger levels.
Some 20,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying and flood-affected areas, with hundreds of relief camps set up to provide shelter and essential facilities to the affected families.
Appealing to the country to stand by the state, Punjab's Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said these were the worst floods the state had seen since 1988.
Punjab is often referred to as the food basket of India and is a major source for agricultural production, particularly of staples like wheat and rice.
The government says there has been extensive crop damage on some 148,000 hectares of agricultural land, which has been submerged under water.
A quarter of Punjab's 30 million people depend on agriculture, raising immediate concern about rural livelihoods.
Torrential downpours have caused water levels in the state's Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers to rise to dangerous levels, putting hundreds of low-lying areas at risk. Many reservoirs are also reported to be nearing full capacity.
Multiple disaster response teams, along with the Indian army, air force, and navy, are helping with the rescue operations. Some 35 helicopters and more than 100 boats have been pressed into service.
Chief Minister Mann toured the flood-hit Ferozepur district by boat. He said the situation was grim and sought funds from the federal government to deal with the crisis.
India's weather agency attributes the floods to repeated interactions between monsoon currents and weather systems like westerly disturbances, contributing to heavy rains in several parts of northern India.
Across the border in Pakistan, floods have also devastated Punjab province, affecting around two million people over the past few weeks.
