Yamuna is currently flowing above the danger mark (205.33m) after three days of nonstop rain in the national Capital, and it also breached the evacuation level around 5:45am on Tuesday, causing a warning and evacuation actions in the riverbed districts.
After recent periods of severe rain in Delhi, Haryana, and other areas, the Yamuna, which enters Delhi from the northern section of the national Capital and exits from the south travelling around 22 kilometres, swelled and on Sunday night crossed the warning level.
A Delhi government official reported that at 8am, the Yamuna was flowing at 206.11m, which was above the evacuation level. 1,04,121 cusecs of water were released from the Hathni Kund Barrage at 4am, raising the river’s water level further.
A warning about the anticipated further rise in the water level is also being issued by the district administration.
The Delhi government issued a notice, and statements are currently being made to inform those who live along the riverbed. Although the swollen Yamuna now does not constitute a threat to colonies that are situated along it in various sections of the city, it does present a hazard to individuals who live in the riverbeds, such as farmers, and in slums that have developed extremely close to the riverbeds.
“We are evacuating people living in low-lying areas near the riverbanks and are being shifted to safer places. We have made arrangements for their stay at government schools and night shelters in nearby areas,” the DM said.
Along with numerous homeless individuals living in various locations along the river bank, many farmers who grow vegetables in the riverbed reside in hutments.
Yamuna has a warning level fixed at 204.50 metres, a danger level set at 205.33 metres, and an evacuation level set at 206 metres. According to a Delhi government official, authorities in the regions where the Yamuna runs through Delhi are closely monitoring the situation and have already issued warnings to individuals who are likely to be impacted.
Yamuna has reached dangerous levels twice in the past two months, requiring the authorities to evacuate residents on the river’s floodplains. Over 7,000 people were evacuated from the riverbank districts on August 12 as the Yamuna crossed the danger line (205.33m). The Hathni Kund Barrage’s flow rate is 352 cusecs, however the discharge typically rises after a lot of rain in the catchment areas.
