Delhi Yamuna Flood: The water level of Yamuna is increasing continuously during the monsoon rains in the national capital Delhi. After 45 years, the water level of the river here has crossed the figure of 208 metres. Looking at the flood situation, the Delhi government is on alert.
The water level of Yamuna rose to 208.08 meters on Wednesday (July 12) at 11 pm and it is expected to reach 208.30 meters by 8 am on Thursday. According to news agency ANI, the Delhi government said, “The water level of the Yamuna in Delhi has crossed 208.05 metres, which is higher than the 207.99 meters imposed by the Central Water Commission for the period from 4 am to 6 am on July 13.” It is more than expected.
Increase in water level on old railway bridge
The government said that an increase was recorded at 10 pm on the old railway bridge. According to news agency PTI, earlier in 1978, there was a record of Yamuna’s water level reaching 207.49 meters in Delhi. The water level of Yamuna was recorded at 207.95 meters on the old railway bridge on Wednesday night at 9 pm. Earlier, 1,47,857 cusecs of water was released from Hathinikund barrage at 8 pm.
Due to the continuous increase in the water level of Yamuna, flood water has entered many areas along the banks of the river. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had to call an emergency meeting.
The Yamuna water level in Delhi crosses 208.05 metres, exceeding the Central Water Commission’s estimate of 207.99 meters (between 4 am and 6 am on July 13). The increase was recorded at 10:00 pm at the old railway bridge: Delhi Govt. https://t.co/GlhXXHsMvX
— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2023
45 boats deployed for rescue work
The Delhi government informed that 17 boats belonging to the Boat Club and 28 boats belonging to the Irrigation and Flood Control Department have been put on duty for awareness, evacuation and rescue work. A total of 45 boats have been lowered. At the same time, 12 teams of NDRF have been deployed for rescue work in the most flood affected areas.
MCD has given leave to so many schools in the low-lying areas
The Education Department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has decided to keep some schools in low-lying areas closed on Thursday (July 13), whose classes will be conducted online for the students.
A press release from the MCD said, “In view of the flood-like situation in Delhi, the education department of the MCD has shifted 10 schools in low-lying areas of Civil Lines Zone, 6 schools in Shahdara South Zone and one school in Shahdara North Zone. It has been decided to keep it closed on 13th July. Online classes will be organized for the students of these schools.
Section 144 imposed in sensitive areas
Thousands of people have been shifted to safer places due to water entering houses and markets built in the vicinity of Yamuna river in Delhi. In view of the flood-like situation, the Delhi Police on Wednesday imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 in flood-prone areas of the national capital as a precautionary measure. Under this section, gathering of more than four people at one place is prohibited.
CM Kejriwal wrote a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah
An official of the Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Department said that the water level of the river is expected to rise further. After the water level reached a record level, Kejriwal urged the central government to intervene to ensure that the Yamuna’s water level does not rise further.
In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Kejriwal requested, “If possible, release water from Hathinikund barrage in Haryana in a limited manner.” Kejriwal drew Home Minister Shah’s attention to the upcoming G-20 summit. Wrote attractively that Delhi is going to host the G-20 summit in a few weeks. He said, “The news of flood in the country’s capital will not send a good message to the world. Together we all have to save the people of Delhi from this situation.
Waterlogging at Delhi Transport Corporation Headquarters
Due to increase in the water level of Yamuna river, there was water logging in Delhi Transport Corporation Headquarters near ITO. At the same time, its employees had to come through water to come to the office. Local MLA Ajay Mahawar said that flood water has risen above four feet in Gandhi Mendu and Usmanpur villages of northeast Delhi. He said that the local people have already been shifted to safer places.
Revenue Minister Atishi said this
Revenue Minister Atishi said that the Delhi government is strengthening river embankments and evacuating people from flood-affected areas. The Delhi Disaster Management Authority issued an advisory asking people to move to safer places and cautioned against venturing into low-lying areas.
Delhi Disaster Management Authority issued helpline number
In an advisory issued by the authority, it has been said that flood-like conditions have prevailed in the Yamuna river, so people should stay away from electric wires and contact helpline number 1077 in case of any emergency.
old railway bridge closed
The Yamuna’s water level crossed the 206-metre mark on Monday night, prompting people living in flood-prone areas to be shifted to safer places and the old railway bridge closed for road and rail traffic. Delhi Water Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj told the media that the Delhi government is ready to deal with the situation. “We are monitoring the situation and all possible steps are being taken,” he said.
Why is the water level of Yamuna rising?
Bhim Singh Rawat, assistant coordinator of the ‘South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers, People’ (SANDRP), attributed the unprecedented rise in the Yamuna’s water level in Delhi to the raising of the river bed due to siltation. He said, “There is no cleaning of silt, more than 20 bridges and three barrages obstruct the flow of water in the 22 km stretch from Wazirabad to Okhla…”
An official said that due to incessant rains in the upper catchment areas, the water level in the river has increased. It rained continuously over the weekend in northwest India. ‘Heavy to very heavy’ rainfall has been recorded in many areas of Jammu Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
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