Punjab schools shut till Sept 7 amid worst floods since 1988

Schools across Punjab will remain shut until Sept 7 due to persistent heavy rainfall and large-scale flooding, State Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced on Sept 3.

Earlier, closures were in place until Sept 3, following holidays declared between Aug 27 and 30 as floodwaters worsened.

According to the latest government update, all 23 districts of Punjab have been declared flood-affected. Officials describe the current disaster as the state’s worst since 1988, with 30 lives lost and nearly 3.5 lakh people impacted.

Rising levels of the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers, along with seasonal rivulets, have submerged vast stretches after heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

More than 1,400 villages have been hit, with Pathankot reporting the highest death toll at six.

The floods have disrupted transportation, damaged homes, and destroyed farmland, leaving communities facing shortages of basic supplies. Around 20,000 residents have been evacuated from vulnerable areas.

On Sept 2, the governor and chief minister visited flood-hit regions to assess the situation and oversee relief operations.

However, continued rainfall and swollen rivers are slowing rescue work and raising fears of further displacement.

Emergency services are also struggling to access remote areas as road networks remain underwater.

The disaster has caused major socio-economic disruption. Schools are closed, transport systems are paralyzed, and public services are stretched thin.

Health authorities are on alert for outbreaks of waterborne diseases, while relief teams provide essential supplies and run emergency shelters.

Experts warn that sustained rainfall could intensify both humanitarian and economic losses, potentially surpassing earlier crises.

The floods have underlined the urgent need for stronger disaster preparedness, climate-resilient infrastructure, and effective river management across Punjab.