From Villages to Homes: How ‘Operation Rahat’ Is Helping Punjab Flood Victims

Punjab has been hit by heavy floods that destroyed homes, farmlands and disrupted normal life. To help the affected families, the state government launched a major relief campaign called “Operation Rahat.” Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, along with senior officials and ministers, is personally visiting villages to provide support. Education Minister Sardar Harjot Singh Bains has taken a leading role in the drive. He has speeded up government aid and even given personal help his family donated ₹5 lakh to repair nearly 50 houses, arranged medicines and fogging, vaccinated animals and kept his house open round the clock for those in need. These efforts have brought much-needed relief to struggling families.

Quick Relief Steps and Monitoring

Minister Bains meets officials every day to review work in flood-hit areas. It has been decided that land surveys will be completed within three days, electricity and water will be restored within 24 hours, and damaged roads will be repaired in 48 hours. For the next three days, he will hold evening meetings himself to make sure relief work faces no delay. His compassion was also seen when the Congress party blocked a highway at Shri Anandpur Sahib. An ambulance carrying a critical patient to PGI Chandigarh got stuck in traffic. Minister Bains immediately sent his pilot car ahead and cleared the way himself, allowing the ambulance to pass. The video of this act went viral on social media and received wide praise, while questions were raised about Congress for blocking roads during such a crisis and putting lives at risk.

Ministers Standing with People

Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO has also been active in helping flood victims. His wife, Sardarni Suhinder Kaur Ji, distributed relief items and animal fodder in Nissoke village of Ajnala constituency. Minister Singh personally visited riverbanks to build embankments and support the affected people. Rural Development Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sodhi also toured damaged areas to deliver relief goods, ration, and clean water. From the first day of the floods, Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar stood with affected families. In Ghullewala village, where a breach in an embankment was feared, he joined locals to save it and immediately provided relief items.

Relief Work in Every Corner

Cabinet Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal went to villages himself to check relief work, ensuring help reached every needy person. Under “Operation Rahat,” 16 trucks of relief material were sent from Patiala to flood-hit areas. Health Minister Balbir Singh made sure that medicines, drinking water, and essential supplies reached all the people in need.

Coordinated Efforts of the Govt

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has also been deeply involved in supporting flood victims. He personally worked with volunteers at the Derba office to prepare relief kits and made sure no family was left out. The Punjab government, through “Operation Rahat,” is showing that it stands with its people in every difficult situation.