Chandigarh: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued a red alert for Punjab, warning of very heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours as the state continues to reel under torrential rains and flood-like conditions.

Several districts are facing severe flooding due to overflowing rivers, including the Sutlej, Ravi, and Beas, which have been receiving incessant rainfall in their catchment areas. Rising water levels have caused waterlogging and inundation in multiple low-lying regions of the state.

The administration has issued alerts in Kapurthala district and urged residents to shift to safer locations due to rising water levels in the Beas River. Other districts, including Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Sangrur, Moga, and Mansa, have also witnessed continuous rainfall, worsening the situation.

While official figures on casualties are yet to be confirmed, unverified reports suggest that at least 26 people have died due to floods. The government, in an official statement, said 14,936 people have been evacuated to safer places. NDRF, SDRF, the Army, and Punjab Police are working round-the-clock to ensure safety and rescue operations.

Currently, 122 relief camps are operational across affected districts, providing shelter to 6,582 displaced people. So far, 1,312 villages have been impacted by the floods across Punjab.

In light of the worsening situation, the Punjab government announced that all schools – including government, aided, recognized, and private – will remain closed until September 3, 2025. School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains urged parents to prioritize their children’s safety and cooperate with authorities.

Earlier, schools were ordered closed from August 27 to August 30, but the closure has now been extended due to persistent heavy rains and the severe flood threat.