Chandigarh, Sept. 4 -- Floods in Punjab have claimed 37 lives and affected more than 3.5 lakh people in all 23 districts as the northern Indian state experiences its worst deluge since 1988. Massive floods have been caused by the swollen Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers and seasonal rivulets due to heavy rain in their catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

The villages worst-affected by the floods are in Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, and Amritsar districts. While the administration has set up relief camps, many villagers continue to stay on rooftops or raised platforms near their homes to remain close to their livestock and property. To ensure the safety and well-being of s...