Bhupesh Baghel Calls Punjab Floods a ‘Man-Made Disaster’, Demands Relief Package
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Chandigarh, September 3 (TheTrendingPeople.com) —Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress general secretary Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday described the devastating floods in Punjab as a “man-made disaster”, accusing both the state administration and the Central government of negligence and delay in providing timely relief.
During a two-day visit to the flood-hit regions, Baghel asserted that the large-scale devastation across major parts of Punjab could have been avoided had proper preventive and precautionary measures been taken in advance.
‘State government was caught napping’
Accompanied by Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, and other senior party leaders, Baghel toured the affected areas of Tarn Taran, Fazilka, and Ferozepur districts.
“There has been complete negligence on the part of the state government and administration in visualizing the situation despite forecasts of above-normal monsoon this year,” Baghel told reporters.
He alleged that the government “woke up too late when everything had already been washed away.”
Centre accused of ‘insensitivity’
The Congress leader further accused the Central government of “indifference and insensitivity” towards the plight of flood victims.
“While the state administration is almost collapsed, the Centre has also failed to act responsibly. The unusual delay in providing even an interim relief package is shocking,” he said.
Baghel stressed that while a comprehensive relief package may take time to finalize, immediate financial assistance could have provided some respite to thousands of displaced families.
Demand for comprehensive relief
Baghel reiterated his party’s demand for a substantial and comprehensive relief package for Punjab, emphasizing that the state requires both short-term aid and long-term planning to prevent such disasters in the future.
He also met flood-affected residents in Dhunda (Khadoor Sahib), Gatta Badshah (Zira), Nihal Lavera (Ferozepur), and Noorshah (Fazilka), where victims narrated their hardships and alleged lack of government support.
Day 2 of Punjab visit
On Sunday, Baghel is scheduled to visit Ghonewal in Ajnala, Dharamkot Randhawa, and the Dera Baba Nanak Corridor in Gurdaspur district to continue his assessment of the flood situation.
He said Congress workers have been mobilized to assist in relief efforts, while the party will keep pressing both the Centre and state government for accountability and urgent action.