The Punjab floods, that followed floods in Himachal Pradesh, while being an outcome of changing weather patterns due to climate change, led to damages in the riparian state whose scale was only possible because of gross negligence by the ruling governments, both at the Centre and in the state. The All India Kisan Sabha sent a delegation to Tarn Taran, Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts of Punjab in the aftermath of the floods, to review the situation and extend relief.  The team noted that the floods in Punjab have been unprecedented and in the affected regions they have meant total loss of standing crop, with reports of over 5 lakh acres of agricultural land being submerged.

The findings of the delegation pointed to a singular observation that this year’s unprecedented flooding was not just a natural calamity, but really took on its monstrous shape due to the criminal negligence on behalf of the bureaucracy and lack of political will, especially the Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB). The BBMB turned a blind eye to IMD’s warnings of heavy rainfall, thus ill-preparing not only their own flood control plans but also failing to warn the rural population from the upcoming deluge.  Serious negligence was also shown in the inspection, cleaning, and maintenance that is normally done for rivers, drains, embankments, dams, and their floodgates. Mismanagement in the process of releasing water from the dams caused widespread destruction of lives, crops, houses and livestock across large parts of Punjab. The BBMB had failed to continuously desilt the dams falling under its jurisdiction.

The Centre announced a tiny Rs 1,600 crore relief package for the state, while the Punjab government declared a paltry sum of Rs 1.2 lakh to fully damaged pucca houses reflecting its cruel and insensitive attitude towards the affected. In contrast, Himachal Pradesh announced a compensation of Rs 7 lakh. The delegation’s understanding was that given the scale of the wholesale destruction of fields, livestock and homesteads, rendering agriculture unviable not just this season but for many seasons to come, at least a Rs 25,000 crore relief was necessary. Using this relief package, a compensation of Rs 1 lakh per acre, compensation for loss of livestock, free seeds for the next season, 3 months wages to agricultural labourers, waiver of loans and interest subvention could be disbursed to give relief to the rural masses.

But the ground reality? The people that the delegation met accused the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP State government and the Narendra Modi-led BJP-NDA Central government of totally abdicating their responsibility, with not even a single rupee of relief or compensation reaching them even one and a half months after the catastrophe.

In Dera Baba Nanak Assembly Constituency (Gurdaspur District), AIKS leaders Sucha Singh Ajnala and Bhupinder Singh Chinna visited the home of Veenus Major (Messi), a Mid-Day Meal worker. Her house has been completely washed away in the floods. Despite this, no government officer has visited the area or conducted physical verification of damage till 25 October 2025, even though the floods first hit in the end of August. Residents reported that no verification has occurred in the entire village, and the local MLA, Gurdeep Singh Randhawa of the AAP, had not visited the village for nearly two months. In Khathala village, located in the Ramdas Subdivision of the Ajnala Assembly Constituency (Amritsar District), the team met Devi Mannual and her son Ashish Mannual, who were living in front of a makeshift shelter after their home was entirely washed away. The visit was conducted in the presence of AIKS Amritsar District Vice President Sucha Singh Ajnala, AIKS Finance Secretary P. Krishnaprasad, and Mid-Day Meal Workers Federation activist Gurmeet Balwind Messi. Here too, no government officials had visited or completed physical verification of losses up to 25 October 2025, despite the constituency being represented by Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal of the ruling AAP.

These visits confirmed what was being shared by villagers throughout: Complete absence of administrative response in multiple flood-affected villages, leaving vulnerable rural families without assessment, support, or engagement from elected representatives or government departments.

AIKS distributed relief to the affected people like blankets as well as diesel for the next sowing season. It also planned to help poor farmers in the sowing season with seeds, tractors, diesel etc.

AIKS President Dr Ashok Dhawale, General Secretary Vijoo Krishnan, Vice President and Member of Parliament from Sikar Amra Ram, Finance Secretary P Krishnaprasad, Vice President Inderjit Singh, CKC members Pema Ram, Pushpinder Tyagi, and Manoj Kumar were present. CPI(M) State Secretary Sukhwinder Sekhon, AIKS leaders from Punjab Baljit Grewal, Satnam Baraich, Major Singh and others were also part of the delegation. At the end of the visit, a press conference was held and it was addressed by AIKS leaders Dr Ashok Dhawale, Vijoo Krishnan, Amra Ram, MP, and Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon.