Delhi On High Alert As Yamuna Crosses Danger Level, Evacuation To Begin When It Breaches 206 Metres Mark

The water level of Yamuna has crossed the danger mark at the old railway bridge in Delhi after Haryana released more than 2 lakh cusecs of water from Hatni Kund barrage.

The water level of the Yamuna River has breached the danger mark of 204.50 metres at the old railway bridge in Delhi after Haryana released around 2,13,679 cusecs of water from the Hathni Kund barrage. The increased water level has pushed the national capital to the brink of flood. According to ANI, at 8 pm, the water level of the Yamuna River was recorded to be 205.76 metres at Old Railway Bridge. 

Addressing a press conference on Monday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the evacuation of people in low-lying areas around Yamuna would start once river breaches the 206 metre mark. Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the AAP government is on high alert and as soon as the Yamuna crosses 206 meters of water level, they will begin evacuations along the bank of the river, as per ANI. 

"Officials instructured regarding evacuation process. There is no need to panic. Only, people living on banks of Yamuna will be shifted," says Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj.

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.