Floods Devastate Punjab Crops, Displace Thousands Across Pakistan and India

Severe flooding in Punjab, Pakistan, and India has caused widespread devastation to agriculture and displaced thousands, with millions of rupees worth of crops lost and many families left homeless. In Pakistan's Punjab, floodwaters destroyed wheat stores in Multan and submerged thousands of hectares of rice fields, with crop losses estimated at up to one trillion rupees ($3.53 billion), threatening food security as the wheat sowing season approaches. In Indian Punjab, the worst floods in decades have submerged paddy fields just weeks before harvest, leaving farmers like Gurvinder Singh financially ruined and uncertain about rebuilding. Infrastructure damage, such as submerged bridges and damaged roads, is hampering relief efforts and recovery in both regions. Political responses have been criticized, particularly in Indian Punjab, where compensation for crop losses is seen as insufficient and the absence of crop insurance programs leaves farmers vulnerable. The flooding continues to strain economic recovery, food supplies, and poses risks of waterborne diseases amid ongoing challenges in managing river flows and dam capacities in Pakistan.