Protection of lives and providing safe shelter in relief camps is foremost priority of state govt: ACS-cum-FCR Anurag Verma

Ferozepur, August 31, 2025: Due to heavy rainfall, nearly 3 lakh acres of land in Punjab have been affected and around 1.25 lakh people have come under the impact of floods. Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Financial Commissioner Revenue Anurag Verma, shared this information after inspecting the villages along the Sutlej river in district Ferozepur today. He was accompanied by Divisional Commissioner Ferozepur Arun Sekhri, Deputy Commissioner Deepshikha Sharma and SSP Bhupinder Singh Sidhu.

ACS Verma held detailed discussions with the flood-affected villagers and district administration regarding the losses. “The foremost priority of the state government is to ensure the protection of lives, shift people to safe shelters in relief camps and provide food and basic necessities for everyone including children and the elderly”, said Verma.

Verma said that the state government has already announced special girdawari to provide compensation for the affected crops. District authorities have been directed to collect accurate data on losses, he said, adding that compensation will be disbursed as per the directions of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann.

In district Ferozepur alone, around 107 villages and nearly 45,000 people have been impacted. Some of the displaced families have been shifted to eight relief camps set up by district administration where they are being provided food supplies and all other essential items.

Referring to village Gatti Rajoke, Verma said that residents had drawn attention to slow drainage of floodwaters. Hence, instructions have been issued to the drainage department to expedite dewatering with the help of JCB machines. He further said that due to waterlogging on the roads, several villages have been cut off from connectivity and the administration has been directed to speed up restoration efforts.

“The district authorities are working round the clock to provide relief. Tarpaulins and other necessary supplies are being delivered with the support of NDRF and BSF. So far, more than 3300 people have been rescued . The government is going two steps ahead to extend all possible help to the flood-affected families”, said Verma adding that the government is fully alert and calculations have already been made in coordination with relevant departments regarding release of water from dams in case of heavy rainfall or regulated drainage if rainfall stops.