Introduction

Punjab, often called the “food bowl of India,” is paradoxically one of the most flood-prone states in the country. Drained by three perennial rivers, the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej, along with seasonal tributaries and hill streams, Punjab has historically thrived on its fertile floodplains. Yet, the very rivers that make its land abundant also bring recurring devastation. The 2025 floods, among the worst in recent memory, have once again underlined the dual challenge of geography and governance. With 3.8 lakh people affected, 11.7 lakh hectares of farmland destroyed, and 43 lives lost, the floods highlight not just natural vulnerability but also systemic mismanagement.

Why Punjab’s Floods Are Back in the Spotlight

Punjab is currently experiencing one of the most destructive floods in decades, with unprecedented rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, J&K, and Punjab itself swelling rivers beyond capacity. What makes this year’s floods significant is the scale: all 23 districts have been declared flood-hit, and the breach of Madhopur barrage gates has worsened devastation. While heavy rains are not new, institutional failures, especially in dam management by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), and delayed warnings have amplified the crisis, making the situation worse than previous floods of 1955, 1988, 1993, 2019, and 2023.

Rivers as Both Boon and Bane

1. Three perennial rivers – Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej traverse Punjab, carrying immense alluvium and making the state highly fertile.
2. Seasonal rivers and choes – Rivers like Ghaggar and hill streams add to Punjab’s complex hydrology.
3. Agricultural abundance – Punjab produces nearly 20% of India’s wheat and 12% of its rice, despite occupying only 1.5% of landmass.
4. Recurring floods – Heavy monsoons, particularly in upstream catchments (Himachal and J&K), frequently overwhelm dhussi bundhs (earthen embankments), as seen in 1955, 1988, 1993, 2019, 2023, and now 2025.

Why Do Dams Intensify Flooding

1. Upstream dams – Bhakra (Sutlej), Pong (Beas), and Thein/Ranjit Sagar (Ravi) play a central role in regulating river flow.
2. Rule curve dilemma – The BBMB maintains high reservoir levels in July–August for irrigation and power, leaving little cushion for sudden heavy inflows.
3. Sudden releases – Emergency releases during extreme rainfall cause flash floods downstream, as seen with Pong dam’s unprecedented 20% higher inflows than 2023.
4. Governance issue – Punjab feels marginalized in BBMB decisions, especially after 2022 rule changes allowing all-India officers to head the Board.

Human Factors Worsening the Crisis

1. Barrage failures – On August 26, two gates of the Madhopur barrage collapsed after Thein dam releases, flooding Pathankot, Gurdaspur, and Amritsar.
2. Weak embankments – Illegal mining has eroded dhussi bundhs, reducing their ability to withstand pressure.
3. Poor coordination – Lack of communication between upstream and downstream departments delayed gate operations.
4. Neglected desilting – Experts estimate that ₹4,000–5,000 crore investment in desilting and embankment strengthening could prevent far greater losses.

Larger Governance Failures

1. BBMB’s narrow mandate – Prioritizes irrigation and power, neglecting flood management.
2. Delayed warnings – Punjab officials allege sudden releases with little time for evacuation.
3. Political tensions – Punjab’s Water Resources Minister accused the Centre of ignoring Punjab’s plight.
4. Environmentalists’ view – Experts stress that flood cushions, transparent decision-making, and scientific dam operations are essential to prevent repeated tragedies.

Conclusion

Punjab’s floods are not just a story of heavy rain but of fragile governance structures. Nature may trigger floods, but poor dam management, illegal mining, weak embankments, and lack of timely communication convert them into disasters. Strengthening embankments, enforcing transparent dam operations, and giving Punjab a greater role in BBMB are urgent needs. Unless governance catches up with geography, Punjab will continue to oscillate between abundance and devastation.

UPSC Relevance

[UPSC 2024] Flooding in urban areas is an emerging climate-induced disaster. Discuss the causes of this disaster. Mention the features of two such major floods in the last two decades in India. Describe the policies and frameworks in India that aim at tackling such floods.

Linkage: The Punjab floods of 2025 mirror the challenges of urban floods like Mumbai (2005) and Chennai (2015), where extreme rainfall combined with poor drainage, unplanned construction, and dam mismanagement turned heavy rain into catastrophe. Frameworks like the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Sendai Framework (2015–30), and National Disaster Management Plan (2019) provide guiding structures, yet governance lapses and weak local preparedness continue to make both rural and urban areas equally vulnerable to flooding.

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