India's legendary spinner and current Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh, has stepped up to provide crucial relief for his home state of Punjab, which is currently battling severe floods. He has sanctioned funds from his MPLAD fund to acquire eight steamer boats for relief operations and has also personally funded three additional boats.
In addition to providing boats, the cricketer-turned-politician has been actively mobilizing support from his personal network. He has reached out to friends and well-wishers to raise funds to help those affected by the floods. The state of Punjab has been dealing with extensive damage and displacement due to heavy monsoon rains and overflowing rivers, which has left several districts waterlogged. Both the government and various volunteer groups are currently engaged in rescue and relief efforts.
"Harbhajan donated 11 steamer boats in all. Eight from his MPLAD fund and three more from his own pocket. Each boat cost around Rs 4.5 to Rs 5.5 lakh. He has also bought three ambulances for smooth transfer of serious patients to nearby hospitals," the source said on conditions of anonymity, as quoted by PTI.
Harbhajan has been actively fundraising through his personal network to support flood relief efforts in Punjab. According to a source, a sporting organization responded to his request with a generous donation of Rs 30 lakh. Additionally, two of his close friends contributed Rs 12 lakh and Rs 6 lakh respectively. So far, an estimated Rs 50 lakh has been collected and donated. The funds are being used to provide essential items like food and medicine to families affected by the floods. As a Rajya Sabha MP for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Harbhajan has been closely monitoring the situation and has promised to provide further assistance as needed.
In Punjab, the recent devastating floods have tragically claimed 46 lives, and have caused extensive damage to crops across 1.75 lakh hectares of land. Authorities have confirmed that relief and rescue operations are being conducted on a war footing by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Army, the Border Security Force, Punjab Police, and district authorities.
The state is currently grappling with one of its worst floods in decades, triggered by the swelling of rivers like the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi. This is a direct result of heavy rainfall in their catchment areas, which are located in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Recent heavy rains within Punjab have worsened the situation, creating additional challenges for local residents. Additionally, officials reported that while the water level in the Pong dam had slightly decreased to 1,394.19 feet on Saturday, it still remains four feet above its designated upper limit of 1,390 feet.