Punjab Government Shows True Leadership, Protecting Every Life

Punjab News: This disaster that hit Punjab showed no mercy to anyone, not to humans, not to their dreams, nor to the voiceless. This flood was intended to sweep away everything, even those innocent creatures who did not even have a voice to cry for help, but in a flood that submerged more than 1,400 villages and affected 3.5 lakh people, a special cause of mercy and compassion came to the fore. Where the Mann government and countless brave people risked their lives to save the voiceless and became a ray of hope in the darkness.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, despite his health problems during the crisis, handled everything with such intensity and gave clear instructions: that “no life, be it human or animal, will be left behind.” This instruction turned the flood response into a massive life-saving mission. Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian ensured that veterinary teams visited the villages for animal welfare. In Fazilka alone, his department distributed 5,000 bags of animal fodder along with human ration.

More than 1.5 million animals trapped in flowing water

In late August 2025, when the Sutlej and Beas rivers raged across Punjab, more than 1.5 million animals were trapped in the flowing water. Their helpless voices echoed in the submerged villages. Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that 481 veterinary teams were deployed in the area during this crisis. Each team had 4 members - a veterinary officer, a veterinary inspector/pharmacist and a grade IV employee.

Gurbachan Singh, a dairy farmer from Pamma village in Pathankot district, says that he saw his 12 buffaloes standing in the muddy water. “I thought everything was over, but then I saw that boats were coming not only for our humans but also for my animals,” he says. There are thousands of stories in which approximately 22,534 animals were treated and their lives were saved.

Aid Reached 5,000 In Villages

Organizations like Kalgidhar Trust reached out to more than 5,000 people in 125 villages and distributed fodder for their animals. Cabinet Minister Khudian said that the department distributed 12,170 quintals of grain and 5,090.35 quintals of green fodder and dry fodder in the affected districts. Every possible effort was also made to increase the immunity of animals. Talking about the figures, more than 5,16,000 animals were saved.

Mann Government Rescues With Technology

Every employee of the Mann government and the Aam Aadmi Party made every possible effort with modern technology so that the needs of the helpless people trapped in the floods were also met. Drones found animals trapped on rooftops, boats reached every animal shelter through the narrow village streets and many animals were taken to safe places. Out of the 38 medical teams in Fazilka, Aam Aadmi Party leader Dr. Amarjit Kaur says: “We found a cow that was still protecting her newborn calf after being trapped for three days. When we lifted them both into our boat, I saw tears in the eyes of our team members, and I felt that we were all doing a great job.”

504 cattle died in 14 districts

Talking about this disaster, it caused a lot of damage. Minister Khudiyan said that 504 cattle/buffaloes, 73 sheep-goats and 160 pigs died in 14 districts including Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Barnala, Bathinda, Hoshiarpur, Tarn Taran, Patiala, Jalandhar, Rupnagar and Moga. Apart from this, 18,304 chickens died in Gurdaspur, Rupnagar and Fazilka due to the collapse of poultry sheds. About 2.52 lakh animals and 5,88,685 birds were affected by the floods.

Government Ensures Comprehensive Flood Relief

But the government has not left anyone behind and they say that they will not leave anyone behind in the future either. And in this situation, many works were done like special water drainage systems helped in drying up more than 1,000 acres of waterlogged land, creating safe places for rescued animals. Principal Secretary Animal Husbandry Shri Rahul Bhandari said that the department released a total of Rs 31.50 lakh for the treatment of flood affected animals. He directed the officials to respond to emergency calls promptly, provide timely medical care to the affected animals and coordinate with the district administration and social organizations for effective relief work.

Distribution of animal fodder along with human rations

The distribution of animal fodder along with human ration in the third phase of relief operations by Rural Development Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond reflects the government’s philosophy that considers all living beings as family. The 28 veterinary teams deployed in the affected districts were not only treating animal diseases but also healing the hearts of farmers who had seen their life’s work washed away. 24x7 control rooms have been set up at both the state headquarters (contact number 0172-5086064) and district level offices.

The Punjab floods of 2025 will not be remembered just as a natural disaster, but as a defining moment when the Bhagwant Mann government and the people of Punjab proved that true leadership means protecting every heartbeat, be it human or animal. In Punjab’s toughest days, Punjab showed that the capacity of our love knows no bounds. And when we show compassion and step up to help someone, we don't just save animals, we save our own humanity.