Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday released ₹377 crore in compensation to more than 30,000 families whose homes were damaged in the devastating floods that struck the state earlier this year. Speaking at a public gathering in Dera Baba Nanak, Mann emphasised that the unprecedented floods of August and September caused suffering on a scale the state had not witnessed in decades.

Mann said he had personally toured flood-hit districts and witnessed the pain and loss endured by people across Punjab. Recalling interactions with families who lost homes, livelihoods, and crops, he reiterated that the state government stood firmly with every affected household. “It is the bounden duty of any sensitive government to stand shoulder to shoulder with people in difficult times,” he said, assuring that no effort would be spared to help families rebuild their lives.

Punjab’s worst-affected districts included Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Tarn Taran. Out of the nearly 30,000 damaged houses reported statewide, Gurdaspur alone accounted for 8,056. Mann noted that the compensation disbursed on Wednesday would enable families to reconstruct their homes with dignity.

The CM outlined the government’s comprehensive rehabilitation package, which includes ₹1.20 lakh for each fully damaged house. Of this amount, ₹70,000 has already been released as the first instalment to eligible families. The remaining amount will be provided in two subsequent instalments to ensure steady progress in reconstruction work. Mann added that the package is among the most generous in the country.

In addition to direct financial aid, Mann highlighted the government’s use of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to support rebuilding efforts. Beneficiaries whose homes were fully damaged have been provided 90 days of wage employment under the scheme, supplementing the ₹1.20 lakh grant. This dual support, he said, ensures both income and rebuilding assistance for affected households.

Mann also pointed out that the state had simultaneously managed to contribute around 150 lakh tonnes of paddy to the national pool despite severe flood-related setbacks. This performance, he said, reflected Punjab’s unwavering commitment as the nation’s primary food producer.

Estimating total flood losses at ₹13,500 crore, the CM renewed his demand for the immediate release of ₹1,600 crore in central assistance that had been publicly announced earlier. He accused the Union government of withholding funds and alleged that such actions amounted to another unfulfilled promise. Calling the delay “step-motherly treatment,” Mann said Punjab deserved timely support from the Centre in the face of such devastation.

On the political front, Mann took aim at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), accusing its leadership of operating with a narrow, family-centric agenda. He alleged that the party’s priorities revolve around personal interests rather than public welfare. “Their agenda is only about four people—‘mera putt, mera bhatija, mera saala, mera jija’,” he said, adding that Punjab’s citizens now support governance based on justice, development, and dignity for all.

Mann reiterated that his government’s focus would remain firmly on rehabilitation, transparent governance, and sustained support for all affected families as Punjab continues to recover from one of the worst natural disasters in its recent history.