Chandigarh: All 23 districts of Punjab remain affected by floods, with several villages still under water. The Punjab government has ordered the reopening of all private, government, and aided schools, colleges, and universities from September 8. Government schools will not hold classes tomorrow, but teachers have been asked to report and ensure cleaning of campuses.
Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that deputy commissioners will take the final call on reopening in areas still under water or where school buildings are damaged.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Punjab on September 9 to visit flood-hit Gurdaspur and meet affected families. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has called a cabinet meeting tomorrow at noon to review the situation. Mann, who is admitted to a private hospital in Mohali, will join via video conference.
Meanwhile, the threat of flooding from the Sutlej river in Ludhiana has eased after repair of the breached main dam, though officials warned the danger could return if water levels rise. In Fazilka, the administration has built a temporary dam to divert excess Sutlej water towards Pakistan, raising hopes of relief in nearby villages.
