Chandigarh, Sept. 4 -- With 37 dead, lakhs displaced and swathes of land submerged, Punjab has been declared disaster-hit as the worst floods in 40 years continue to ravage the state.

Chief secretary KAP Sinha, who is also the chairman of the state executive committee constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2025, on Wednesday authorised the district magistrates to issue requisite orders under Section 34 of the Act in the event of a threatening disaster situation.

The state government has declared all 23 districts of the state flood-hit after torrential rains and release of water from dams has left the Beas, Sutlej, Ravi and their tributaries swollen, causing extensive flooding in areas located along these rivers.

"With the situa...