Indian ravage state floods killing 30 and overwhelming 1,400 villages

At least 30 people died and more than 354,000 were affected by incessant rains and floods in the state of Punjab in northern India.

The authorities said that every 23 state districts affected, after rivers and tanks have swollen at danger levels.

Some 20,000 people have been evacuated from low zones and affected by floods, hundreds of rescue camps installed to provide shelter and essential facilities for affected families.

By appealing to the country to “stay next to the state”, the chief minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, said that it was the worst floods that the state had seen since 1988.

Punjab is often called “food basket” from India and is a major source of agricultural production, in particular staples such as wheat and rice.

The government says there have been many crop damage on some 148,000 hectares of agricultural land, which has been overwhelmed underwater.

A quarter of the 30 million people in Punjab depend on agriculture, which immediately raises concerns concerning rural livelihoods.

Torrential showers have caused a water level in the Sutlej rivers, Beas and delighted with the state to reach dangerous levels, putting hundreds of low danger areas. Many tanks would also be approaching full capacity.

Multiple response teams, as well as the Indian army, Airforce and the Navy, help rescue operations. Some 35 helicopters and more than 100 boats have been put into service.

On Tuesday, chief minister Mann did a tour in the Ferozepur district with flooding by boat. He said the situation was dark and was looking for funds from the federal government to face the crisis.

The Meteorological Agency of India said that floods are caused by repeated interactions between monsoon currents and meteorological systems such as western disturbances.

This has also brought unusual rains in several other parts of northern India, he said.

Through the Indian border, the floods have also devastated Punjab province of Pakistan, affecting some two million people in recent weeks.

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