A major controversy erupted in Punjab after a video surfaced showing three state ministers discussing their past trips to Sweden and Goa while inspecting flood-affected areas. The video, which went viral on social media, captured ministers Barinder Kumar Goyal, Laljit Bhullar, and Harbhajan Singh seated on a boat wearing life jackets, casually sharing stories about luxury cruise rides and vacation experiences during a time of severe flooding.

One minister was heard recalling a luxury cruise in Sweden, while another spoke about his time in Goa. The incident drew sharp criticism from the opposition Congress, which accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of insensitivity toward flood victims.

Congress MLA and Leader of Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa slammed the government in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Flood-hit families in Punjab beg for a glass of drinking water, but AAP ministers found time to relive their ‘golden memories’ of luxury cruises in Sweden & Goa. What a relief tour!”

The controversy comes at a time when Punjab is battling a severe flood crisis in eight districts—Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, and Ferozepur.

Over 500 villages have been inundated, with the Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas rivers overflowing due to heavy rains in the catchment areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Water levels at the Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams have crossed the maximum limit, while Bhakhra dam levels continue to rise.

Rescue and relief operations are underway, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Indian Army working round the clock. Despite these efforts, the situation remains grim as at least three people have lost their lives, and large swathes of crops have been destroyed in the floods.