NEW DELHI: In an unprecedented move, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday announced the deployment of the state government’s helicopter for flood relief operations, pressing it into service for evacuation and supply of essential relief material to stranded families across marooned villages.
“The people had given this helicopter to us by giving a whopping mandate, and now we are pressing it into the service of people in this hour of crisis,” the Chief Minister said during his visit to the flood-affected areas of Gurdaspur district.
Mann, who conducted a whirlwind tour of the inundated villages, said several people remain trapped due to rising water levels, requiring immediate assistance. “To ensure timely evacuation, the government helicopter will now be used exclusively for relief operations, while I will travel by road for field visits,” he added.
The CM highlighted that flood control rooms have been set up in all districts, with real-time monitoring of water levels and relief efforts. “Punjab government is firmly committed to compensating every single penny of loss incurred due to incessant rainfall. I am personally reviewing updates from across the state,” Mann assured.
He emphasized that the state is duty-bound to reach even the most remote and worst-hit areas. “No stone is being left unturned. Relief and rescue work is our top priority,” he said.
Mann informed that all Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, and senior officers are stationed in their constituencies to oversee and expedite rescue work. District administrations, led by Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police, have been directed to safeguard lives and property while ensuring smooth evacuation of people from vulnerable areas.
The Chief Minister also announced a special girdawari (survey) to assess damage to crops, houses, cattle, and property caused by the floods. “The survey will be carried out in a fair and transparent manner, and every affected family will be compensated. We will ensure that no one is left out,” he pledged.
Reiterating the government’s commitment, Mann said, “Every loss—whether of crop, cattle, or home—will be covered. People will be duly compensated for every single penny of damage they have suffered.”
With massive relief and rescue operations underway, the Chief Minister underlined that the government’s focus remains firmly on securing lives and restoring normalcy in flood-hit regions.
