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New Delhi: The national capital city of Delhi is on high alert after the Yamuna river surged past the danger level on Monday, triggering urgent warnings and the relocation of families from vulnerable floodplain settlements.
At 6 AM on Tuesday, water levels at the Old Railway Bridge stood at 205.91 metres, slightly lower than the 205.95 metres recorded an hour earlier. The river had crossed the official danger threshold of 205.33 metres on Monday afternoon, continuing to swell through the evening.
Evacuations are mandated once the level touches 206 metres, a mark officials fear could be breached within hours.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited low-lying neighbourhoods along the Yamuna on Tuesday morning, inspecting flood-prone zones including Yamuna Bazaar, Asita Ghat and Chhath Ghat. She instructed agencies to intensify preparations and ensure relief and rescue measures were in place. Fourteen boats have already been stationed at critical points for emergency deployment.
The sudden rise in water has been blamed on heavy rainfall across the upper Yamuna basin and the release of large volumes from the Hathnikund Barrage. Forecasts from the Central Water Commission (CWC) suggest the river could edge up to 206 metres, heightening the risk of flooding in the capital.
To mitigate the threat, relief camps have been set up in East, Southeast, North, Northeast, Central and South Delhi. Vulnerable locations flagged by the CWC include Karawal Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Kotwali, Civil Lines and Defence Colony, along with riverbank villages such as Burari, Pur Shahdara, Badarpur and Sabhapur. Authorities confirmed that contingency plans for evacuation, temporary housing and food supplies have already been activated.
The city remains anxious to avoid a repeat of July 2023, when the Yamuna swelled to a record 208.66 metres, inundating vast areas and forcing more than 25,000 residents from their homes. That flood surpassed the 1978 high of 207.49 metres and left behind widespread damage.
In neighbouring Haryana, the Faridabad district administration has also moved into emergency mode. Officials have been ordered to maintain round-the-clock monitoring, with villages such as Mohana, Latipur and Manjhauli, situated close to the river, identified as being at particular risk.
(With agency inputs)
