Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to discuss the devastating floods that have wreaked havoc across Punjab. During the meeting, Mann briefed Shah on the widespread damage and pressed for a larger relief package from the Centre to help rebuild the state.
The Chief Minister estimated that the current losses stand at around ₹13,800 crore but warned that the figure could go up to nearly ₹20,000 crore as assessments continue. He explained that more than 2,300 villages were submerged in floodwater, nearly 5 lakh people were displaced, and thousands of acres of farmland were ruined. In addition, over 3,200 schools were damaged, and roads, bridges, and culverts were washed away, cutting off many areas from basic connectivity.
Mann also raised the issue of financial assistance for farmers who lost their crops and urged the Centre to relax procurement norms for grain. He requested an upward revision of compensation under the SDRF/NDRF guidelines so that affected families could get proper relief. The Chief Minister specifically asked for higher payouts to farmers and households that lost livestock and homes.
Amit Shah, while listening to the Chief Minister’s appeal, acknowledged that the initial release of ₹1,600 crore from the Centre was only “token money” and assured Mann that more funds would be released soon. Mann, for his part, reminded Shah that Punjab has always stood by the nation in difficult times and that it now deserves reciprocal support when its own people are struggling.
The meeting comes at a crucial time as the state government is under pressure to deliver immediate relief to flood-hit families. Mann’s push for a bigger central package reflects both the scale of the disaster and the financial strain Punjab is facing in its recovery efforts.