NEW DELHI: Several areas and roads of the city were inundated by flood waters as the water level of river Yamuna crossed the danger mark following heavy rainfall and the release of water from the Hathnikund Barrage in neighbouring Haryana. The water level in the Yamuna crossed the danger mark to reach 208.46 metres on Thursday morning, the officials informed
Several low-lying areas of Wazirabad bore the brunt of flooding, even as a few residential areas of Delhi are became submerged as the Yamuna river overflowed. Flood water also entered water pumping stations, posing a threat to supply to water to residents over the next few days.
The Central Water Commission said that Yamuna water level reached 208.48 metres at 8 am on Thursday. As per MCD, many schools had to remain closed today due to flood-like situation, including 10 schools in low-lying areas of Delhi's Civil Lines zone, 7 in Shahadra.
Over the last few days, Delhi recorded a swift rise in the water level of Yamuna, which shot up from 203.14 metres at 11 am on Sunday to 205.4 at 5 pm on Monday. The water level breached the danger mark of 205.33 metres almost 18 hours earlier than expected.
The Delhi police imposed section 144 CrPC as a precautionary measure in the flood-prone areas in Delhi. As part of its evacuation plan, the Delhi government evacuated a total of 16,564 people living in low-lying areas to safer places on higher ground and 14,534 are living in tents or shelters set up across the city. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote a letter to Central Water Commission on Wednesday to take urgent measures to mitigate the imminent crisis.
Water level in Hathnikund barrage in Yamunanagar district again started to rise. RS Mittal, Superintendent Engineer, while giving details about the situation, said, “...The water level had started going down yesterday but it started rising again since last night...It doesn't seem that the water level will go down any lower right now..."
Train movement was hit as more than 300 mail and express trains and 406 passenger trains have been cancelled between July 7 and July 15 due to waterlogging on tracks following heavy rainfall over the past few days, officials said on Thursday.
The officials said that about 600 mail/express trains and over 500 passenger trains have been affected overall by waterlogging.
The Delhi govt issued a list of advisory over Yamuna flooding the national capital. The advisory said that schools, colleges & universities will remain closed till Sunday, all Govt offices, except those providing essential services, have been instructed to Work from Home.
The advisory was also issued for private offices to Work from Home. Meanwhile, heavy vehicles, except those providing essential services, that enter Delhi will not be allowed.
The Delhi govt is also mulling water rationing as 3 Water Treatment Plants are shut and people are expected to face water crisis for a day or two.
"I would like to request people to not step out if it is not essential and resort to Work From Home. We have closed the schools in affected areas. We are also trying to provide all facilities at the relief camps...As per the CWC prediction, the peak (of river Yamuna's water level) will reach by 3-4 pm today and it will then start going down," said Delhi CM Kejriwal.
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