Several low-lying areas along the river Yamuna on Monday were put on alert as the water level in the river touched 204.26 metres, above the warning level in the national Capital. The water level of Yamuna increased after Haryana released one lakh cusec of water from Tajewala barrage on Sunday night. The warning level is 204.00 metre while danger mark is 204.83 metre. It is expected that Yamuna may touch danger mark of 204.83 metre on Tuesday.
District Magistrate (East) Kunal, who is also the nodal officer, told The Pioneer that general alert has been issued to those residing in low-lying areas on the riverbed of Yamuna. “There is no need to panic due to rise in water level in Yamuna. All necessary precautions have been taken. A general alert has been issued to people residing in low-lying areas especially Usmanpur, Garhi Mandu, Jaitpur, Okhla, Yamuna Bazar, Bhajanpura and Shastri Park,” said Kunal adding that a control room has been set up in the district East for this purpose.
The officials of Flood and Irrigation said that the main purpose of this general alert is that those residing in low-lying area should be cautious and alert. “In a bid to avoid floodwater in low-lying area Mukherjee Nagar drain has been closed so that water could not be entered in the city,” officials said. “The capital has capacity to handle 4 to 5 lakh cusec water,” they said. The slums and jhuggis which are located on the riverbed have been asked to be alert and they will have to evacuate if the water level crosses 205 mtr.
The highest water level of 207.49 metre in Yamuna was recorded in 1978 when several areas in the city witnessed flash floods. In the past 40 years, the city had witnessed floods in 1967, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1988, 1995,1998 and 2013.
According to PTI, a flood warning has been issued to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam and West Bengal due to possibility of heavy rainfall in the foothills of Himalayas over the next four days.
India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Director-General laxman Singh Rathore said a Monsoon trough will bring “heavy” to “very heavy rainfall” in the foothills of Himalayas.