As the water level of the Yamuna River crossed the “danger mark” and reached 205.20 metres at 5 pm on Saturday, authorities started evacuating people residing in the low-lying areas, the Delhi Government officials said.
Following the flood alert, the Delhi Government called for an emergency meeting on Saturday evening in light of the water being released from Haryana’s Hathini Kund Barrage.
More than 6 lakh cusecs of water was reportedly released from the barrage at 6 pm on Saturday.
Following which, the Yamuna water level at the Hathini Kund Barrage has crossed the danger mark of 90,000 cusecs and till 5 pm, 5,03,935 cusec of water was released that may rise further following intermittent rains.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a tweet claimed that five lakh cusec water was released by Haryana. “Haryana has released 5 lakh cusec water. Called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation,” he tweeted.
The water level of the Yamuna River at the Delhi Railway Bridge rose to 205.20 metres (47 centimeter above danger level) by 5 pm and is expected to rise even further, an official said
“The water level of river Yamuna at Delhi Old Railway Bridge reached at 204.92 metres at 7 am on July 28 (above the warning level) and having rising trend,” according to a statement issued by the East Delhi district administration.
“The CWC, Upper Yamuna Division, New Delhi has issued flood forecast for the Delhi Railway Bridge (North Delhi Dt NCT, Delhi). The water level of river Yamuna at Delhi Rly Bridge was 205 metres at 9 am on July 28 (warning level 204.00 m),” the advisory said.
“All executive engineers/sector officers are directed to keep in close contact with the control room in relation to the discharge, water level at the Old Railway Bridge and the advisory or forecast from the Central Water Commission/MET, and requested to take appropriate measures/steps accordingly to avoid flood-like situation,” an advisory from the authorities said.
“The Irrigation and Flood Control Department of the Delhi Government has made preparations to evacuate people residing in the low-lying areas. Rescue boats kept ready to tackle any emergency and officers of the irrigation and flood control department have been directed to keep a vigil on vulnerable low-lying areas in north Delhi,” said an official from the flood control and irrigation department.
Quick Response Team (QRT) vehicle and three boats have been deployed to alert people living in low-lying areas, he said.
Central Water Commission Official Flood ForecastIJ tweeted “Flows into #Hatnikund barrage have increased again in the morning hours and are of the order of 2500 to 3000 cumecs as per CWC 1D model .As a result, river water level at #Delhi rly Bridge is expected to increase further and flood situation is likely to remain severe.”
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said a low-pressure area over western Uttar Pradesh and its neighbourhood persists, which could lead to widespread rainfall with isolated ‘heavy to very heavy rainfall’ over Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and northwest Madhya Pradesh during the next two days.