Delhi CM Kejriwal Calls Emergency Meet As Yamuna Levels Reach Record High, Atishi Says Govt Prepared

Yamuna Water Level: Asserting that the government was prepared to tackle the situation, Delhi Minister Atishi said embankments have been installed to prevent the breach of water.

People from low-lying areas around the Yamuna river help one another relocate to a safer place ( Image Source :PTI )

With the possibility of floods looming large over Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday called an emergency meeting as the Yamuna river swelled to 207.55 metres, breaching the all-time record level of 207.49 metres reached in 1978. A rapid increase in the Yamuna water level was recorded as Delhi got pounded by record rainfall over the last three days.

A Delhi government official told PTI that the meeting would be held at the Delhi Secretariat and all senior officers of all departments concerned have been asked to be present.

Speaking on the situation, Delhi Minister Atishi said the government was fully prepared to tackle any situation.

"We are regularly conducting evacuations near the Yamuna River. Several embankments have been installed to prevent the breach of water. We are monitoring the situation continuously," Atishi further said.

READ | Yamuna Levels Breach 45-Year Record In Delhi, Section 144 Imposed In Flood-Prone Areas

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj also said all possible steps were being taken to prevent major damage.

BJP MP and former cricketer Gautam Gambhir visited a relief camp in Delhi and lashed out at the AAP government. "In the last nine years, they (AAP government in Delhi) didn't spend a single penny on infrastructure and only did politics of freebies," PTI quoted Kejriwal as saying.

Thousands of people have been evacuated since Tuesday when the Yamuna breached the danger mark of 205.33 metres.

The government said 45 boats have been deployed for evacuation and rescue work and NGOs have been roped in to provide relief to the evacuated people, PTI reported.

Delhi Police has imposed Section 144 as a precautionary measure in the flood-prone areas. Earlier in the day, Delhi Police personnel used a boat to evacuate trapped people in Mandali area.

"Rescue operations at Yamuna Hhadar, people being convinced to evacuate but for them milch property gets priority even at the sake of threat to life and liberty," IPS Chhaya Sharma tweeted.

Earlier in the day, overflowing water reached the Ring Road near North Delhi's Chandigarh Akhara. Authorities are using sand-filled sacks to prevent the water from reaching the Ring Road, IANS reported.

The river is likely to rise further, an official of the irrigation and flood control department told PTI.