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Punjab is currently facing its worst flood in nearly four decades, with the government declaring that all its 23 districts have been affected. Over 1,400 villages are inundated, and around 3 lakh acres of farmland are reportedly submerged. Over 3.5 lakh people have also been affected.
Despite being a predominantly agrarian state with an extensive canal network, Punjab has faced recurring floods due to excessive rain, overflowing rivers, and poor drainage. Over the decades, the state has witnessed multiple catastrophic floods that caused heavy loss of life, damage to agriculture, and destruction of infrastructure. Below is a year-wise account of the major floods as per government records and various reports:
1955 floods: earliest in independent Punjab
The 1955 flood was among the earliest recorded in independent Punjab. Heavy monsoon rain led to the overflow of rivers such as the Ghaggar and Sutlej.
Caused by continuous rain and poor drainage systems, the flooding was extensive in the Malwa region and damaged large swathes of agricultural land and even habitations.
1978 floods: major devastation along Sutlej
The 1978 floods in Punjab were primarily caused by the Sutlej River and its tributaries, along with excessive release of water from Bhakra Dam after heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
The Beas River also contributed to the flooding because of heavy inflows into Pong Dam, but the major devastation was along the Sutlej belt in districts like Ludhiana, Ferozepur, and Kapurthala. As the Ghaggar too overflowed, it flooded several other districts of Punjab like Patiala and Sangrur, while Haryana too was affected. Yamuna too was in spate, thus affecting Delhi as well in 1978.
1988 floods: Punjab’s worst in modern history
Considered the most destructive in the state’s history, the 1988 flood was preceded by torrential rain — nearly 634 mm in four days — and heavy discharge from Bhakra and Pong dams caused widespread devastation.
Over 600 deaths were reported and around 34 lakh people were affected by it. While 9,000 out of the state’s 12,989 villages were inundated, over 2,500 villages got completely submerged or isolated. Thousands of hectares of crops were destroyed during the peak paddy season just as they were getting ready to be harvested in September.
Severe damage was also reported to roads, bridges, embankments, and thousands of houses.
1993 floods: downpour triggered landslides
Heavy rain in July and flash floods across major rivers — Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, and Ghaggar — created havoc across Punjab in 1993. The intense monsoon rain triggered landslides in upstream regions, causing multiple rivers to overflow.
Around 350–550 people are estimated to have died in the calamity, and around 12 lakh acres of crops were damaged, crippling the rural economy. Roads and railway lines were also damaged; and connectivity was cut off across several districts.
2008: water release from dams causes flash floods
Flash floods were reported in parts of Punjab in 2008, particularly along Sutlej and Beas rivers, destroying thousands of hectares of crops and severely damaging rural infrastructure. The flash floods were believed to have been caused by the release of water from upstream dams amid incessant rain.
2019 floods: Punjab govt declares ‘natural calamity’
Following incessant rain and heavy discharge from the Bhakra Dam, Punjab witnessed another flood in August 2019. The deluge inundated over 300 villages in Ropar, Jalandhar, Ferozepur and adjoining districts, leaving thousands stranded.
Low-lying areas were completely submerged, forcing large-scale evacuation and rescue operations, including airdropping of food and water by helicopters. Areas around the Ghaggar River got submerged in Mansa, Sangrur, Patiala and adjoining Haryana villages. Breach was reported at multiple points along the Ghaggar at the time and even at Dhussi Bandh over Sutlej.
The floods caused massive crop losses, with over 1.7 lakh acres of agricultural land under water, damaging paddy, maize, cotton and vegetable crops. Infrastructure took a major hit as roads, schools, power networks and sewer systems were badly affected. The state reported at least eight deaths, along with livestock losses.
The initial financial loss was pegged at around Rs 1,700–2,000 crore, prompting the Punjab government to declare the floods a natural calamity and release Rs 100 crore for immediate relief. A central assessment later placed the damage at Rs 1,219 crore, covering agriculture, irrigation, health, and public works.
2023 floods: among the most damaging in recent years
In 2023, Punjab faced its worst flooding in decades, with over 1,432 villages in 10 districts affected. Rivers and drains overflowed due to extreme rain in Himachal Pradesh and parts of Punjab. A total of 38 deaths were reported.
Exceptionally heavy rain in upstream Himachal Pradesh — up to 436 per cent above normal — coupled with poor drainage infrastructure in Punjab is believed to have caused the floods.
Around 2.21 lakh hectares of farmland got submerged that year. A “nursery langar” initiative later mitigated much of this damage. Overall loss to the state was estimated at Rs 1,320.6 crore, including Rs 605.4 crore in agriculture, Rs 173.1 crore for roads and bridges, and Rs 159.4 crore for water projects.
Bridges and roads in Ferozepur and Fazilka were severely damaged, threatening connectivity to border villages. Thousands were moved to relief camps, while over 900 homes were damaged.
Following the floods, Punjab did not get any dedicated flood relief package from the Centre except for Rs 218 crore released under the National Disaster Relief Fund. The state distributed flood relief to affected farmers at the rate of Rs 6,800 per acre which the recipients alleged was inadequate.
2025 floods so far
The current floods in Punjab have affected 1,400 villages across districts, mainly Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Pathankot, officials said. Around 3 lakh acres of farmland have already submerged, causing massive damage to paddy and other crops, while approximately 3.54 lakh people have been affected. The death toll has reached 30, while at least three people are reportedly missing. As many as 19,597 people have also been rescued from various places.
Heavy monsoon rain, recorded at 74 per cent above normal in August — the highest in 25 years — combined with excess water release from Bhakra, Pong, and Ranjit Sagar dams, swelled rivers like Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi, worsening the situation, officials indicated.
Rescue and relief efforts are underway with the help of the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Border Security Force (BSF), and over 15,000 people have been evacuated so far.
The state has set up 129 relief camps and ordered the closure of schools and colleges till September 3, besides initiating a special girdawari (crop loss survey). However, the sheer scale of damage has put enormous pressure on resources. Assessment of the livestock loss and major infrastructure, including roads and canals, is yet to be carried out. Several villages have been disconnected from the main parts of districts.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has termed it a crisis of unprecedented magnitude and urged the Centre to release Rs 60,000 crore of pending funds for relief and rehabilitation. The government has also issued alerts for more heavy rain in the next few days. Experts warn that the impact could worsen if the water inflow into rivers continues at the current pace. Farmers’ bodies are demanding immediate compensation for crop losses, as large-scale destruction threatens the Kharif season and food security.
Why does Punjab flood repeatedly?
Experts believe a combination of factors have led to repeated floods in Punjab.
High dependence on rivers: Punjab’s river system, including perennial rivers Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, and the rain-fed Ghaggar River and its tributaries, are prone to overflowing during heavy monsoon rain or water release from upstream areas.
Climate change: Increased frequency of extreme rain events in recent decades.
Poor drainage: The state’s flat topography and encroachments on natural drains worsen waterlogging.
Water release from dams: Sudden discharge from dams during peak monsoon aggravates flooding in downstream areas. Punjab has no crop insurance system, thus worsening the state’s economic condition besides leaving farmers to bear the brunt of major losses.
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