Delhi: Evacuation begins as Yamuna water level crosses danger mark

After the Delhi government issued an advisory to the authorities for taking up appropriate measures to avoid a flood-like situation in the national capital, the authorities have begun evacuating over hundreds of people in and around the Yamuna river.

The rising water level in Yamuna can be a problem for people residing near the riverbed. Around 15,000-20,000 people are living in slums on the bank of the Yamuna.

The water level of the Yamuna river has crossed the danger mark and reached 205.20 metres at 5 pm today.

A report quoted the Nodal officer (Preet Vihar) Arun Gupta as saying that the people residing around the Yamuna river and in the low-lying areas were being shifted to safer places. The officer also warned that the water in the river can rise up further by tonight.

The official said that water at the Hathnikund barrage along the Haryana-Uttarakhand border had risen to alarming levels owing to overnight downpour.

The Delhi government on Saturday issued a warning after water levels of the Yamuna river crossed the danger mark.

The water level in the Yamuna river near Old Railway Bridge is expected to reach 205.4 metres between 9-11 pm today as water is being released from Hathini Kund Barrage, SDM (East) Arun Gupta said.

The Yamuna water level at the Hathinikund barrage has crossed the danger mark of 90,000 cusecs and till 5 pm, 5,03,935 cusec of water was released, an official said.

The water in the Yamuna continued to swell as heavy rains continued in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand forcing the authorities to release more water at Haryana's Hathnikund barrage during the day.

(With inputs from Agencies)