Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh today said that the State Government has set a target of 45 days to bring life back to normalcy in the flood-affected areas. He was addressing the media after reviewing relief operations with district officials and holding a meeting with NGOs under Mission Chardikala.
The Minister said that while floodwaters have receded, the next challenge is to prevent the outbreak of waterborne and vector-borne diseases. The Health Department has been working proactively, and no serious disease outbreak has been reported so far.
He informed that no new malaria cases have been detected in the district, while only six dengue cases were reported this year. Intensive surveillance has been carried out, covering 4.31 lakh households, and in the last five days alone, 23,260 houses were surveyed.
Larvicidal spraying was done at 4,215 sites, fumigation at 164 sites, and 401 fever patients were identified and treated. Dr. Balbir Singh shared that 699 dengue samples and 117 drinking water samples have been tested so far, and over 1.5 lakh chlorine tablets have been distributed.
Medical camps at the village level treated 10,731 patients in just five days, including cases of fever, diarrhoea, skin infections, and eye infections. Additionally, 12,281 health kits were distributed through ASHA workers. The Minister said that 34 new doctors have been posted in Fazilka district to strengthen healthcare delivery.
Later, the Minister visited village Jhangar Bhaini near the international border, where a special medical camp was organized with the support of DMC Ludhiana. He assured villagers that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, stands firmly with farmers until the next crop is harvested and brought to the market. He also announced the setting up of an Aam Aadmi Clinic in the village.
During the camp, Fazilka MLA Narinder Pal Singh Sawna, Balluana MLA Amandeep Singh Goldy Musafir, and Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav also addressed the gathering, expressing solidarity with flood-affected people. The Minister appealed to NGOs to adopt villages and extend social and psychological support to residents.
He also urged people to contribute generously through the website rangla.punjab.gov.in, assuring that all funds will be used for flood relief and rehabilitation. On this occasion Deputy Commissioner Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu was also present.