Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, visited flood-affected areas of Punjab on Monday, offering support and solidarity to the victims. His visit began in Amritsar, where he reached Ghonewal village in Ajnala, one of the worst-hit areas by recent flooding. He interacted with locals, listened to their grievances, and assessed the damage caused by the disaster.
In a symbolic gesture reflecting solidarity with the struggling farmers and villagers, Rahul Gandhi arrived by tractor in another flood-affected region of Gurdaspur. His mode of transport was widely noted, signaling his attempt to connect with the agrarian community reeling under the impact of the flood crisis.
During his visit, Rahul Gandhi also paid respects at Gurdwara Shri Samadh Baba Buddha Ji Sahib, where he performed Ardas (prayer) for peace and well-being in Punjab. He was accompanied by several senior Congress leaders including Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa, Amritsar MP Gurjit Singh Aujla, and other party representatives.
The Congress party, in a statement, emphasized the severity of the flood situation in Punjab and appealed to people across the country to extend help. “The floods have caused massive destruction. Lives have been lost, homes destroyed, and people displaced into relief camps,” the party said. It added that every Congress worker stands firmly with the people of Punjab during this crisis.
This year’s floods in Punjab have been particularly severe, caused by overflowing rivers like Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi, along with seasonal drains swelling due to heavy rainfall in the upstream regions of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. In addition, continuous rainfall in Punjab itself has worsened the situation. So far, the death toll has reached 56, and over 1.98 lakh hectares of crops have been reported destroyed.
Earlier, on September 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas in Punjab and reviewed the damage. He later announced financial assistance of ₹1,600 crore, which adds to the previously allotted ₹12,000 crore for disaster relief. Several Union ministers including Shivraj Singh Chouhan, L. Murugan, and B. L. Verma also visited Punjab to monitor the situation.
As both the Centre and the Opposition engage with the crisis, the focus now shifts to how effectively relief measures are implemented and how swiftly the lives and livelihoods of those affected can be restored.
