Amritsar/Gurdaspur, Punjab — Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi visited severely flood-affected villages in Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts Monday to assess damage and interact with affected families. Ghonewal village in Ajnala (Amritsar) was among the first places he visited, followed by Gurchak in Gurdaspur.
Accompanied by top Congress leaders including Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Partap Singh Bajwa, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Gandhi walked through submerged roads, inspected damaged homes, and met with locals whose livelihoods have been devastated by recent flooding.
While at a historic site, Gurdwara Baba Budha Sahib in Ramdas, Amritsar, Gandhi offered prayers and received a traditional robe of honour. During the visit, he said the ₹1,600 crore relief package announced for flood-victims in Punjab is “far too small” given the extent of loss and the number of people displaced.
The flood crisis in Punjab has hit crop yields, livestock, housing, and roads. Local residents showed Gandhi fields under water and homes destroyed. In Gurdaspur, he rode a tractor through the worst-affected zones to more closely see the damage.
A dramatic moment occurred near the Ravi river when Gandhi attempted to visit Toor, a border village cut off by river flooding. Police officials blocked his path, citing security concerns. Gandhi asked officers whether it was not Indian territory and questioned why he could not be protected on Indian soil. The confrontation drew criticism from Congress leaders, who alleged political motivations behind the obstruction.
Partap Singh Bajwa, Leader of the Opposition in Punjab’s Assembly, condemned the incident as “shameful and insensitive,” claiming the AAP government was using “flimsy security excuses” to prevent Gandhi from reaching the worst hit. Former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi echoed concerns that people in border areas are being neglected and demanded access and accountability.
State officials say relief operations have been ongoing, with medical camps being set up, rescue efforts in flood-cut areas, damage assessment underway, and assistance distributed to families whose homes have been submerged or damaged.
Gandhi’s visit comes six days after Prime Minister Modi surveyed some of the same regions. The opposition leader’s tour is being viewed as heightening pressure on state authorities to scale up relief efforts, expand compensation, and improve infrastructure for communities repeatedly affected by flooding.
As the monsoon season continues, political stakeholders on all sides are expected to remain vocal about government response and the adequacy of relief measures in Punjab’s most vulnerable flood zones.