As Risk Of Flood Looms Large In Delhi, Thousands Along Yamuna Banks Evacuated

Water minister Saurabh Bharadwaj stated that the evacuation was underway.

The majority of the tents for the evacuated individuals have been placed in the East district (1,700), with the remaining 280 in the North East Delhi area, 170 in Shahdara, 150 in Central, and 384 in the South East district.

Source : PTI

The Delhi administration said on Tuesday that thousands of residents living near the floodplain of the city's swelling Yamuna river have been relocated to safer areas and given food and water. Water minister Saurabh Bharadwaj stated that the evacuation was underway, news agency PTI reported. The affected persons are being relocated to the East, North, Northeast, Southeast, Central, and Shahdara areas of Delhi, where over 2,700 tents have been set up, according to Bharadwaj at a media conference.

The minister stated that the Yamuna's water level was increasing owing to the flow of a large amount of water from Haryana, but that a flood in Delhi was improbable.

“There will be no floods in Delhi. As the Yamuna levels rise, people living close to the riverbanks have to be evacuated. There is no threat of water getting into residential areas close to the river,” he was quoted by PTI in its report.

VIDEO | "As the water level in Yamuna river has exceeded the danger mark, people living along the banks are being evacuated to safer areas. Arrangements of mattresses and free food have been made by the Delhi Government," says Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj as he reviews relief… pic.twitter.com/brBKqxC92T

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 11, 2023

According to Bharadwaj, the majority of the tents for the evacuated individuals have been placed in the East district (1,700), with the remaining 280 in the North East Delhi area, 170 in Shahdara, 150 in Central, and 384 in the South East district.

Shelters have also been prepared in the North district, with food, water, and other amenities, he said.

Following an emergency meeting on Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stated that residents of the Yamuna floodplain will be evacuated if the river reached 206 metres.

The river has now surpassed that level. Its water level reached the dangerous limit of 205.33 metres on Monday evening, significantly sooner than expected. As additional water was let into the river from the Hathni Kund Barrage in Haryana, the water level is expected to rise to 206.75 metres by 6 p.m.