Iyer's Plea: Cricketer Urges Donations for Flood-Ravaged Punjab; PBKS Launch Relief Effort

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain and India batter Shreyas Iyer has appealed for donations to support the flood-affected Punjab. The state is currently grappling with the worst floods in decades. 43 people have been reported dead, with floods submerging hundreds of villages and destroying crops worth thousands of crores.

Punjab minister Hardeep Singh Mundian said 1,902 villages in 23 districts have been affected, impacting more than 3.84 lakh residents. Amid such testing times, Shreyas Iyer has urged fans to come out in support of the flood-affected state and donate to provide relief.

“We all know that Punjab's strength and courage are its true identity. The love I've received from the people of Punjab is my greatest strength. Today, the floods have brought us down, but together, we can overcome this challenge. Every contribution you make can give someone new hope. Together, we will see Punjab smiling again. Let’s unite and come together for Punjab. Every contribution counts,” said Iyer in a video shared by Punjab Kings.

PBKS have joined hands with Global Sikh Charity to raise funds for providing relief to the flood-affected people. The IPL franchise has set a target of collecting Rs 2 crore through public donations to provide maximum relief to the victims.

Earlier, PBKS donated Rs 33.8 lakhs, which will help in providing inflatable rescue boats for the evacuation of stranded families, medical emergencies and delivery of essential relief supplies along with clean drinking water to support flood-affected individuals in the State. The boats will also continue to be used as disaster-response assets in Punjab for future emergencies.

More than 1,000 villages have been inundated in Punjab, and approximately 61,000 hectares of farmland submerged, displacing about 1.46 million residents. The floods, driven by swollen Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers, were triggered by intense rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, along with dam releases upstream.