Camel hair—often called camel wool—is a specialty animal fiber prized for its warmth, drape, and quiet luxury. Most premium camel hair comes from the Bactrian camel (the two-humped species) of Central and East Asia. These camels grow a dual coat: long, coarse guard hairs that protect the animal from weather, and a much finer, softer undercoat (the “down”) that spinners and weavers value for apparel. The down is typically a natural golden-tan, though it dyes readily much like sheep’s wool. Collection is relatively gentle compared with many other animal fibers. Each spring, Bactrian camels naturally molt, shedding both guard hair and down over a 6–8 week period. Herders gather tufts by hand, comb the animals, or in some cases shear; afterwards, the fiber is washed and “dehaired” to remove the coarse outer fibers so only the soft down remains for fine yarns. Typical annual yield per animal is a few kilograms of hair, of which only a fraction is the prized down, contributing to its relati...
Overview of the 2025 Punjab Floods
Punjab endured its worst flood calamity in nearly four decades, with the disaster extending from early August through early September 2025 WikipediaThe Indian Express. The flooding was triggered by exceptionally heavy monsoon rainfall, especially in the upper catchment areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, paired with controlled releases from dams like Bhakra, Pong, and Ranjit Sagar, which compounded downstream flooding WikipediaNDTV ProfitThe Indian Express+1.
Human & Geographical Impact
Villages & Population: Over 1,400 villages across the state were submerged, impacting around 3.5 lakh (350,000) residents WikipediaThe Indian Express+1.
Fatalities: The death toll stands at around 29–30 people as of early September 2025 www.ndtv.comThe Indian ExpressThe Week.
Evacuations & Rescue: More than 15,000 people were evacuated; regions such as Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, and Amritsar registered the highest rescues www.ndtv.comThe Hans IndiaThe Week+1.
Agricultural & Infrastructure Devastation
Crop Damage: Approximately 3 lakh acres (close to 1.2 lakh hectares) of farmland were submerged or damaged. Initial estimates suggest massive agricultural losses The Times of India+1The Indian Express.
Compensation Scheme: Punjab’s disaster relief plan offers ₹15,000 per acre for >75% crop damage and ₹6,750 per acre for 33–75% damage. If fully classified as total loss, the compensation outlay could total around ₹644 crore, of which the state’s share alone would be approximately ₹425 crore The Times of India.
Infrastructure: Widespread damage to roads, bridges, and critical services was reported, severely affecting rural connectivity and border regions The Indian Express+1Maharashtra Times.
Crop Damage: Approximately 3 lakh acres (close to 1.2 lakh hectares) of farmland were submerged or damaged. Initial estimates suggest massive agricultural losses The Times of India+1The Indian Express.
Compensation Scheme: Punjab’s disaster relief plan offers ₹15,000 per acre for >75% crop damage and ₹6,750 per acre for 33–75% damage. If fully classified as total loss, the compensation outlay could total around ₹644 crore, of which the state’s share alone would be approximately ₹425 crore The Times of India.
Infrastructure: Widespread damage to roads, bridges, and critical services was reported, severely affecting rural connectivity and border regions The Indian Express+1Maharashtra Times.
Government & Administrative Response
Emergency Measures: Punjab declared itself a disaster-hit state, prompting statewide closure of schools, colleges, and universities until September 7, 2025 The Times of IndiaABP Live.
Relief Coordination: Agencies like the NDRF, SDRF, Army, and state police were engaged in rescue operations, with 1,700 gazetted officers deployed to ensure effective relief distribution in affected villages www.ndtv.comThe Times of India+1.
Official Oversight: Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria conducted on-ground assessments in five hardest-hit districts—Amritsar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, and Ferozepur—and submitted a detailed report to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who reaffirmed central government support for relief and rehabilitation The Times of India.
Political Pressure: The Punjab Congress president demanded a ₹50,000 crore central relief package, calling out symbolic visits by central officials and urging real, substantial aid The Times of India.
Community Relief: Due to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s ill health, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal stepped in and visited flood-affected areas, emphasizing coordination and relief assurance Navbharat Times.
Summary
In sum, the 2025 Punjab floods emerged as a catastrophic event triggered by extreme weather and dam releases. The calamity affected over 1,400 villages and hundreds of thousands of residents, resulting in nearly 30 deaths and massive agricultural losses estimated in crores. While emergency responses and relief mechanisms were activated, local and state authorities emphasized the need for a robust financial package from the central government for meaningful rehabilitation.
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