Delhi: Yamuna Crosses Warning Mark, Govt Prepared To Evacuate People In Low-Lying Areas

Delhi Rains: The Yamuna river in Delhi is likely to cross the danger mark on Tuesday morning, Delhi Minister Atishi said.

The Yamuna crossed the warning mark of 204.5 metres in Delhi amid incessant rains in the national capital, the government said in a bulletin, PTI reported. The warning level of water in Yamuna in Delhi is 204.50 metres while the danger mark is 205.33 metres.

According to a flood bulletin, the water level at the Old Railway Bridge increased from 203.46 metres at 1 am on Monday to 204.50 metres at around 2 pm.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said evacuation of people in low-lying areas around Yamuna would start once river breaches the 206 metre mark.

READ | Delhi's Drainage System Not Designed To Tackle So Much Rainfall, Says CM Kejriwal

CM Kejriwal said a flood-like situation was unlikely in Delhi but the was government prepared. He also said Delhi's drainage systems were not designed to tackle such unprecedented rain.

"According to weather predictions, the water level in Yamuna is not expected to rise too high, flood-like situation unlikely. If Yamuna crosses the 206 metre mark, then we will start evacuation along the banks of the river," ANI quoted Kejriwal as saying.

"Delhi received 153 mm of rain on July 8 and 9. Delhi's systems are not designed to take such unprecedented rain, so people faced troubles," the AAP supremo further said.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Minister Atishi, while taking stock of the flood situation, said the Yamuna was likely to cross the danger mark around 11 am on Tuesday as a large quantity of water was being discharged into the upper reaches of the river.

"Around 43,000 cusecs of water was being discharged into Yamuna from Haryana till Sunday morning that has increased to nearly three lakh cusecs now. We expect the level of water in Yamuna to reach danger mark around 10-11 am on Tuesday," Atishi told PTI.

To monitor the flood-prone areas and the water level of the Yamuna, the Kejriwal government has set up 16 control rooms, including a central control room.

Delhi witnessed its highest rainfall (153 mm) in a single day in July since 1982 in the 24-hour period ending 8:30 am on Sunday. In the next 24 hours, the national capital was pummeled by an additional 107 mm rainfall, leading to severe waterlogging in several areas.

The Delhi government also announced a closure of all schools on Monday.