Delhi on High Alert as Water Level of Yamuna in City Breaks All-Time Record at 207.55 Mts

NEW DELHI: The water level of Yamuna river in Delhi on Wednesday reached a level of 207.55 metres, breaking an all-time record of 207.49 metres which was set in 1978, reported government agencies.

Section 144 CrPC has been imposed by Delhi Police in the flood-prone areas in Delhi as a precautionary measure.

An emergency meeting was called by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday, even as the Yamuna reached its highest level so far at 207.55 metres, with a threat of floods posed in the city.

The meeting was to be held at the Delhi Secretariat with senior officers of all departments concerned slated to be present, said a Delhi government official. Meanwhile, evacuation of thousands of people was carried out and they were shifted to safer places at higher altitudes due to rising water level of the Yamuna river in the national capital.

The Central Water Commission's (CWC) flood-monitoring portal reported that the water level at Delhi’s Old Railway Bridge crossed the 207-metre mark at 4am, and rose to 207.25 metres by 8am, for the first time since 2013. Delhi recorded a rapid increase in the Yamuna water level over the last three days.

The present water level of 207.55 metres is the highest recorded since 2013, when the river had reached a level of 207.32 metres, according to the CWC data.

It was explained by an official that the sharp rise in water level is the result of continuous rainfall in the upper catchment areas and heavy precipitation causing the soil to be saturated in Delhi and nearby regions over the weekend.

People residing in low-lying areas had to be shifted to safer places lying at higher altitudes, the department said.

Moreover, it was stated that 45 boats have been deployed for purposes of awareness, evacuation and rescue work and NGOs have been enlisted to provide relief to the evacuated people.

"The Old Railway Bridge has been closed for traffic. All gates of the Okhla Barrage have been opened to release excess water and prevent prolonged high water levels," the department said.

A flood warning was issued by the Delhi government on Sunday and a second warning issued on Tuesday. Authorities were directed to remain vigilant and adopt any necessary measures in vulnerable areas. There has also been deployment of quick response teams and boats.

Sixteen control rooms have also been set up for monitoring the flood-prone areas and the water level of the Yamuna. Teams of divers and medical personnel have been deployed, equipped with all the necessary materials.

Incessant rainfall in Northwest India over three days from Saturday had many areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan recording "heavy to extremely heavy" rains.

This unprecedented rainfall has resulted in overflowing rivers, creeks and drains that have hugely contributed to damaged infrastructure and disruption of essential services in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab.

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