Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (September 9, 2025) visited Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, States ravaged by recent floods following unprecedented rain, and announced relief packages. He announced financial assistance of ₹1,500 crore for Himachal Pradesh and an aid of ₹1,600 crore for Punjab.
For Punjab, the announcement is in addition to the ₹12,000 crore already in the “State’s kitty”, said a government statement, without elaborating further.
On Monday, Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said that the State has more than ₹12,000 crore in the disaster management fund and urged the Centre to relax norms to utilise the funds.
The Prime Minister aerially surveyed the disaster-affected areas in both the States. Later, he held meetings with officials to review the relief and rehabilitation measures. In Himachal, the meeting was held in Kangra, while in Punjab, it was organised in Gurdaspur.
The Prime Minister asked for a “multi-dimensional view to be taken to get the entire region and people back on their feet”. “These would be done through multiple ways, like rebuilding homes through PM Awas Yojana, restoration of national highways, rebuilding schools, provision of relief under PMNRF, along with release of mini kits for livestock,” said the statement.
Recognising the need to support the agricultural community, the government said it will provide additional assistance to farmers who lack power connections.
In Himachal, under the PM Awas Yojana, damaged houses will be geotagged to help in accurate assessment and faster delivery of aid. In Punjab, financial assistance from PM Awaas Yojana-Gramin will be extended under a ‘special project’ submitted by the State government for the reconstruction of houses damaged by floods in the rural areas.
Mr. Modi announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 to those seriously injured in the calamity in both the States.
Political parties in Punjab termed the financial assistance “inadequate”.
“I urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enhance the financial assistance of ₹1,600 crore announced for Punjab besides considering a one-time loan waiver for farmers in flood-affected areas,” said Sukhbir Badal, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal. He hit out at the ruling Aam Aadmi Party. “I demand an explanation from the AAP government after the shocking revelation during the PM’s visit that despite having ₹12,000 crore with it under the disaster management fund, it failed to release aid when it was most needed. The AAP government has compounded the woes of the Punjabis with this criminal negligence,” Mr. Badal said.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring termed the ₹1,600-crore flood relief package for Punjab as “miserably meagre”, akin to “a drop in the ocean”.
