Chandigarh, Sept. 9 -- Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the flood-affected areas of Punjab, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh on Monday laid bare the catastrophic damage inflicted by the recent floods on the state's critical healthcare infrastructure, with initial estimates pegging the losses at a staggering Rs 780 crores.

While addressing the media at Punjab Bhawan, Balbir Singh stated that the deluge has dealt a crippling blow to the state's public health system, severely damaging healthcare facilities across the state.

The Health Minister informed that the floods have destroyed medicines worth Rs 130 crores, besides 1,280 dispensaries and health & wellness centres, 101 community health centres, an...