Delhi On High Alert As Water In Yamuna Crosses Danger Level Mark, Highest In Ten Years

By OB Bureau On Jul 12, 2023

New Delhi: Delhi is on high alert with the Yamuna River swelling to an all-time high level. It crossed the 207-metre mark, due to incessant rain over the past few days, prompting authorities to put appropriate measures in place. Traffic movement continues to be affected in the national capital owing to rain-related damage to roads, infrastructure, and waterlogging. The Delhi Traffic Police on Wednesday morning issued an advisory, urging commuters to avoid affected stretches.

The Delhi government set up 16 control rooms to monitor the Yamuna level and the flood-prone areas.

The water level of the Yamuna River at Old Delhi railway bridge breached the 207-metre mark in the early hours of Wednesday and is expected to rise further, triggering fear of flood in the capital. The highest flood level record is 207.49 meters. As of 10.45 am, the water level in Yamuna was 207.37 metres. According to the Central Water Commission’s (CWC) flood-monitoring portal, the water level at the Old Railway Bridge crossed the 207-metre mark at 4 am, the first time since 2013, and rose to 207.25 metres by 8 am on Wednesday.

The water of swollen Yamuna river has reached Ring Road and to prevent it, sandbags are being put in place by the administration. Heavy machinery has been deployed to evacuate people and shift them to safer locations, Hindustan Times reported.

Thousands of people living on the Yamuna floodplains were shifted this week as the river continued to flow above the “evacuation mark” of 206 metres. Around 41,000 people inhabit the low-lying areas near the river, vulnerable to flooding. Officials said 204.5 metres is considered the “warning level”, 205.33 metres the “danger level” and 206 metres the “evacuation level”. As of 9 am, the water level was 207.32 metres.

The highest water level of 207.49 metres in the Yamuna was recorded on September 6, 1978. The level touched 207.11 metres on September 22, 2010, and 207.32 metres on June 19, 2013.

“Around 8000-9000 people have been evacuated so far. The monastery area and the boat club in the central district are vulnerable points. We have made additional deployment of relief and rescue personnel at the sites. We are closely monitoring the situation,” HT reported a Delhi government official as saying.

The official cited the forecast and said the water level will touch 207.35 metres and stabilise thereafter.

Delhi minister Gopal Rai said officials have been instructed to provide all basic facilities to the evacuees. “Approximately 2,700 relief centres/tents have been set up…can accommodate around 27,000 individuals,” he said. The government has also set up shelters in several places.

The Yamuna spans around 22km in the Capital. Its floodplains have been encroached over the years and mostly vegetables, flowers, etc are grown on them. Migrant labourers have also built hutments on the floodplains and homeless people have found shelter under the bridges.