Yamuna Water Level keep rising, Fear of Flood in Delhi

The threat of a severe flood loomed large over the Capital as the Yamuna continued to rise alarmingly on Friday, submerging several low-lying areas. The water level reached 206.08 metres during the evening hours and Delhi government officials monitoring the situation believe it may cross the 206.5 metre mark by Saturday afternoon.

With the river in spate, the Old Yamuna Bridge — connecting east Delhi with the heart of the city — was shut for rail and road traffic.

All east- bound trains from the Old Delhi Railway Station are being rerouted, a railway official said. The closure of the bridge also resulted in the diversion of traffic onto the newly constructed Ring Road bypass, which resulted in further choking of the roads.

Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit appealed to the public to not panic. She said though Haryana had released nearly 9 lakh cusecs of water in the past three days, Delhi may escape the flood’s fury. This was because the discharged water had breached embankments en route to the Capital.

Since Friday morning, the Yamuna continued to swell every hour and more and more areas along its banks got affected by the evening. At 205.60 m, the river was flowing almost a metre above the danger mark (204.83 m) as early as 9 am.

It crossed the 206m level at 7 pm. Haryana released nearly 1 lakh cusecs of water at different intervals on Friday, an official said.

People in Old Usmanpur village were seen perched on rooftops as the houses in the area were submerged. Though the government had erected tents alongside the main road, some families refused to leave their homes. “ We have shifted our household items to the upper floors and are praying that the water level will not rise any further,” Subhash Yadav, a resident of the village, said.

Those staying in the slum clusters vacated their houses after the government issued a flood warning on Thursday. “ We have been staying in the camp since last evening. We came here in a government boat,” Lalita, an evacuee, said. She claimed that the arrangements of food, water and medicines were adequate.

More than 400 camps have been erected at various places near the low- lying areas around the river. Mobile vans of the health department, Delhi Jal Board tankers and sanitation facilities have been made available at these sites.

Delhi irrigation and flood control minister Rajkumar Chauhan visited the affected areas on Friday.

Even as the water level continued to rise, he said there was no cause for concern.

After the inspection, Chauhan said the water that was released from Haryana’s Hathnikund Barrage on September 8 had flooded villages in that state owing to cracks in some embankments. According to him, the Yamuna level is expected to rise to 206.55 meters after which it would remain stable.

“ Officials have issued regular warnings to those residing in the low- lying areas, urging them to shift to safer locations.

The government is geared up to face any eventuality arising from the increase in the water level of the Yamuna. The situation is being monitored round the- clock through the control room,” he added.

The government has also positioned 72 boats on the riverside.

In addition to this, 68 divers and a team of the National Disaster Relief Force have been deployed near ISBT to tackle any emergency.

Chauhan said more than 100 booster pumps had been fitted along the banks of the river to pump out water entering the low- lying areas.