Their houses being inundated with floodwater after Yamuna River crossed the danger mark, many still refuse to leave their houses and shanties and are staying there with their belongings despite authorities persuading them to move to safer places.
More than 10,000 people have been so far evacuated and shifted in tents, put up near the DND flyover, along the highway in Mayur Vihar Phase I and along the Vikas Marg and ITO, a Government official said. A total of 1,149 tents have been set up to accommodate the evacuated people. Food and medical help is also being extended to them, he said.
Although, Delhi Government has provided safer places and three time food to all the affected people and also evacuated hundreds of them. However despite all the facilities, many among them, mostly farmers and cattle grazers, living in the low-lying areas of the floodplain, such as Yamuna Bazar opposite Hanuma Mandir, ITO and Wazirabad, are not willing to move out and preferred to stay there, fearing that they may lose their homes.
Ramadhir Mahto, 43, is one among thousands those refused to be rescued even after water entered in his home. He can even get down from bed and even started cooking food on table placed over folding bed.
“We are not panicky as it happens every year. I cannot leave my home as it is difficult to carry all the belongings and once I move to tents it all will be stolen,” Mahto said.
Bhagirathi Devi, 36, said that she is sure that water level would come down. “If the government is so concerned why cannot they provide adequate support and relief even to those who did not shift,” she said.
“We were requested to evacuate three days ago by the authorities but spending days in flooded home is better than shifting in temporary tents as there is no facilities and enough spaces to keep our belongings,” she added.
Rohit, 19, said our main concern is managing food for family. living is such a state is not new for us and the government and media are in panic not us. Just provide us some food and water until the situation get improved instead forcing us to shift in tents for food,” he said.
The river was flowing at 206.04 metres on Tuesday afternoon with the danger mark being 204.83 metres, officials said, adding the water level is expected to rise further as Haryana has released 19000 cusec of water from the Hathani Kund Barrage.
As traffic movement on Old Yamuna Bridge in the National Capital have been closed after the water level in the river rose, commuters faced traffic woes on Monday with the Delhi police diverting traffic to Geeta Colony flyover and ITO flyover.
The highest water level recorded at Old Yamuna Bridge was 207.49 metres in 1978. It was 207.11 metres in 2010 and 207.32 metres in 2013, according to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority.