Revived monsoon spells doom for Punjab's flood situation

 Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday expressed concern over the Southwest monsoon getting reactivated in the region that may impact relief and rescue works and aggravate flood situation in the state.

"In view of resumption of rainfall, have directed all ministers in charge and DCs (Deputy Commissioners) to step up vigil," he tweeted.

The Chief Minister called for a detailed review meeting on the flood relief measures later in the day, a spokesperson for the Chief Minister told IANS.

For the past few days, there was no major rainfall in the region and the water level in flooded villages was reducing, officials said.

State Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said district and block level health teams have been visiting flood-affected villages through boats to provide healthcare facilities to the patients.

He said the teams have been instructed to stay 24x7 in densely populated villages where patients required further treatment.

He said instructions have already been issued to all Civil Surgeons to personally monitor the medical camps so as to ensure the adequate availability of medicines and treatment.

Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Vishavjeet Khanna said the state would provide free high quality wheat seeds to the farmers in the Rabi season.

He said the farmers would not have to make any requisition for it as the Agriculture department would provide them after their loss was ascertained in special 'girdawari' (revenue loss).

Khanna said the department has also made requisite attachments for ensuring fodder for the cattle.

More than 300 villages, mainly in Ropar, Anandpur Sahib, Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Ferozepur districts, have been badly hit by the swollen Satluj river, damaging crops and forcing tens of thousands of villagers to spend nights on rooftops. IANS