Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
2h ago

Rahul Gandhi Presses Modi for Larger Punjab Flood Relief, Calls Rs 1,600 Crore Inadequate

His push intensifies a dispute over loss estimates that will determine the scale of additional central aid.

Image
Image
The leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha claimed that millions of homes have been destroyed, crops in more than 4 lakh acres have been ruined and a large number of animals have been swept away. (@INCIndia)
File Photo: IANS

Overview

  • On Sept 22, Rahul Gandhi renewed his call for a comprehensive package, citing nearly Rs 20,000 crore in losses and widespread damage to homes, crops and livestock.
  • The Union government earlier announced Rs 1,600 crore in interim assistance, released Rs 240.80 crore to the SDRF, and notified ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the seriously injured.
  • BJP leaders and Punjab officials disputed Gandhi’s numbers, referencing state assessments of roughly Rs 13,289–13,800 crore in losses and animal deaths counted in the tens of thousands, not in the millions.
  • Gandhi posted video from visits to Amritsar and Gurdaspur where residents recounted destroyed houses, lost animals and poor connectivity, seeking roads, bridges and rehabilitation support.
  • Severe flooding linked to swollen Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers hit multiple districts, damaging more than 4 lakh acres of crops and causing dozens of deaths, with formal assessments still under way.