Yamuna River flows above danger level; Delhi on high alert

Rail traffic temporarily suspended on Old Yamuna Bridge after water level crosses danger mark

July 11, 2023

Delhi on high alert as Yamuna crosses danger mark, touches 206. 24-meter

Delhi is on high alert as the water level in the Yamuna River reached 206.24 meters on Tuesday, which is above the danger mark, according to the Central Water Commission.

The danger mark is 205.33 meters as per the Central Water Commission (CWC).

As the water level in the Yamuna crossed the danger level mark in Delhi, the Railways on Tuesday temporarily suspended rail traffic on the Old Yamuna Bridge, officials said.

The Northern Railways’ Chief Public Relations Officer, Deepak Kumar said: “Rail traffic over the Old Yamuna Bridge has been temporarily suspended since 6 a.m. today (Tuesday).”

He said the decision was taken after the water level breached the danger mark of 205.33 meters in the national capital due to the release of water from the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana.

The development came as more rain is predicted in the city for the entire week after three continuous days of torrential downpours, which triggered waterlogging in several areas of the national capital.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said that his government was in constant touch with the CWC.

“According to experts, there will not be any flood-like situations. However, we are prepared if it does happen. If the water level rises to 206 meters, we will initiate an evacuation. We have identified 41,000 people living in the nearby areas of the Yamuna riverbank, and we have established relief camps for them,” Kejriwal had said.

In 1978, Delhi witnessed a flood when 7 lakh cusecs of water was released from the HathniKund Barrage, causing the Yamuna River level to cross 207.49 meters at the old bridge.

On July 9, 45,000 cusecs of water was released from the HathniKund Barrage into the Yamuna River. Later that night, an additional three lakh cusecs of water was released and around 2.5 lakh cusecs of water was released on Monday morning.

[With Inputs from IANS]

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