Sultanpur Lodhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday, September 4, appealed to the central government to provide urgent assistance to flood-affected areas of Punjab. While visiting affected regions in Sultanpur Lodhi, Kejriwal highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that nearly 14,000 villages and about 3 lakh people have been impacted.

Kejriwal drew a direct comparison with India’s relief efforts for Afghanistan following its recent earthquake, saying, “The Indian government has helped Afghanistan by providing funds, which is commendable. But I also urge the Centre to send relief to Punjab in such tough times.”

Punjab has been grappling with severe flooding, with over 1,900 villages inundated and damage to standing crops exceeding 4 lakh acres. The death toll has reached 43. Overflowing rivers and the forced release of water from dams have worsened the situation, prompting large-scale evacuations. Nearly 21,000 people have been relocated to safer areas, while the Army, BSF, NDRF, and state police continue rescue operations and reinforcement of river embankments.

Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian has formally requested Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan to provide an emergency relief and financial package to address the losses. Responding to the situation, Chauhan assured that the central government would offer full support, noting that funds are already available under the State Disaster Relief Fund and two central assessment teams are evaluating the total damage.

In addition, AAP MPs have pledged their MPLADS funds to assist ongoing flood relief efforts. District administrations have also issued urgent evacuation advisories for residents in low-lying areas, as rising river levels and continued rainfall pose ongoing risks.