CHANDIGARH: Punjab government led by CM Bhagwant Mann has deployed a unique initiative drones to deliver essential supplies to flood-hit villages that have been cut off by road. Dry rations, medicines, drinking water, baby milk, sanitary pads, torches, and other critical items were dropped directly onto rooftops in submerged areas of Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Ajnala, Fazilka, and Pathankot. In several cases, drones have flown 10 to 15 km to reach families stranded for two to three days. The relief operation, monitored personally by chief minister Mann, has been hailed as a benchmark in disaster management. Officials said the drone service is not only swift but has also emerged as a lifeline for hundreds awaiting assistance. Police and administrative teams, along with medical staff, NDRF personnel, Aam Aadmi Party workers, and local residents, were working together, in rain-battered Punjab. In Fazilka, police officers were seen carrying sacks of food on their shoulders, while in Gurdaspur and Pathankot, officials waded through waist-deep water to set up medical camps. In Ajnala, relief is being transported via tractors and boats. Authorities stressed that no district has reported a shortage of government aid, underscoring the administration’s accountability and coordination. Ministers are visiting affected areas regularly, while the CM is directly monitoring the situation. The government said the tech-driven relief effort has reinforced public trust at a time of crisis, highlighting a new model of governance where technology, accountability, and community cooperation converge to deliver timely aid.
