Delhi CM Kejriwal Seeks Army, NDRF Help As Regulator Damage Worsens Flood Situation

As flooding and waterlogging bring Delhi to a crawl, CM Arvind Kejriwal has directed the Chief Secretary to seek the help of the Army and NDRF to ease out the situation.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday sought the help of Army and NDRF as Delhi continues to face severe trouble due to massive waterlogging, and flooding caused by a rise in the water level of the Yamuna River. ITO, Shanti Van, Rajghat, Anguri Bagh and many other areas are excessively waterlogged four days after Yamuna breached the danger mark of 205.33 metres. As of 10 am on Friday, the water level of Yamuna River at Old Railway Bridge (ORB) was recorded at a level slightly lower than that recorded at 9 am. While it was 208.40 meters at 9 am, it is 208.38 metres at 10 am, reported ANI.

"This breach is causing flooding of ITO and surroundings. Engineers have been working whole nite. I have directed the Chief Secretary to seek help of Army/NDRF but this shud be fixed urgently," Kejriwal tweeted. The CM will be visiting the site to take stock of the situation, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, a regulator of the Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Department suffered damage near Indraprastha, exacerbating the already dire situation.  Due to the damage, as per PTI, the floodwaters even reached the Supreme Court, located in the Tilak Marg area in the central part of the city. The compromised regulator allowed the Yamuna water to flow back towards the city areas.

According to PTI, though the water level of the Yamuna has begun to recede, the damage to the regulator near Indraprastha caused flooding in ITO and surrounding areas. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Revenue Minister Atishi directed the chief secretary to seek help from the NDRF and Army to prevent flooding in Delhi due to the damage to the regulator. The Irrigation and Flood Control team have been building a weir at a drain but water is still entering the city, Atishi said in an official communication, as quoted by PTI.

"If needed all engineering wings of the NDRF and the Army be requested to help on this matter. Chief Secretary directed to submit hourly reports to CM, I&FC minister and Revenue Minister," she said.

Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said the government has directed the chief secretary to take up the matter of the damage to the regulator on priority and resolve the problem, the agency reported. 

"Whole night, our teams worked to fix the damage at regulator of drain no. 12 near WHO building. Still, the water of Yamuna is entering the city through this breach. The government has directed the chief secretary to take it up on highest priority," he said in a tweet.  

The flooding in ITO and Rajghat areas has led the authorities to impose curbs on the movement of traffic. As per instruction, reported PTI, no vehicular traffic will be allowed on Mahatma Gandhi Marg from Sarai Kale Khan towards IP Flyover due to overflow of drain water near the WHO Building. Commuters are advised to avoid the stretch, the Delhi Traffic Police said in a tweet. 

"Movement of traffic is restricted from Geeta Colony Flyover towards Rajghat and ISBT, Kashmere Gate due to rise in water level of Yamuna river. Commuters are advised to plan their journey accordingly," the traffic police said in another tweet.