Education paralyzed in Punjab – 1,200 villages submerged, Schools and colleges shut till September 7
Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): Amid continuous heavy rainfall and rising floodwaters, the Punjab government has declared the entire state a disaster-affected region. An official order was issued by Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, directing that all government employees’ leaves be cancelled with immediate effect.
The government has also extended the closure of schools and colleges across Punjab till September 7, beyond the earlier declared September 3.
According to official figures, 23 districts have been affected by the floods, with over 1,200 villages inundated. The Ghaggar river’s water level has risen alarmingly, reaching 7 feet on Wednesday morning—just one foot below the danger mark.
In Mohali, the district administration has issued advisories for people living near the Ghaggar river and Sukhna Lake, urging them to stay alert. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has warned that continuous rainfall has weakened embankments along the Sutlej river and smaller streams, appealing to residents to move to safer locations.
Meanwhile, in Jalandhar’s Basti Sheikh area, a kutcha (mud) house collapsed early Wednesday. Fortunately, no casualties occurred as the house owner had stepped out to buy milk at the time, but the structure was completely destroyed. The state government has ordered intensified relief and rescue operations, with round-the-clock monitoring of flood-hit regions. Disaster response teams remain on high alert as rivers continue to swell under heavy rainfall.
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