Delhi: The Yamuna River in Delhi has risen above the danger mark, leading to concerns of flooding as water continues to be released from upstream barrages
and heavy rainfall batters northern India. According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), the river touched 204.60 metres at the Old Railway Bridge around 7 pm on Sunday, crossing the warning level of 204.50 metres. The danger mark stands at 205.33 metres, and evacuation procedures are triggered once the water level breaches 206 metres. “In view of the quantity of water released from Hathnikund Barrage today, 17th August, and heavy rainfall in the Upper Yamuna area, it is informed that the water level at Delhi Railway Bridge may cross 206.00 around 02 AM on 19th August, 2025,” the advisory said.
#WATCH | Yamunanagar, Haryana | All 18 gates of the Hathinikund Barrage have been opened for the first time this season as the water level of the Yamuna River rises. (17.08) pic.twitter.com/bUo57Zx4fd
— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2025
Rising waters fuel fears of flooding
The Old Railway Bridge remains a crucial monitoring point for Delhi’s flood preparedness, with all concerned agencies placed on alert.“The reason for the increase in level is mostly due to the high volumes of water released from the Wazirabad and Hathnikund barrages every hour,” an official from the central flood room explained.
Currently, the Hathnikund barrage is releasing around 1,27,030 cusecs of water, the highest this monsoon season, while the Wazirabad barrage is discharging 45,620 cusecs every hour. Water from these barrages takes 48 to 50 hours to reach the national capital, raising fears of a flood-like situation in the low-lying parts of the city.
This steady rise has been evident since the weekend. On Friday, the water level touched 204.65 metres by 1 pm, followed by 205.11 metres on Saturday, before breaching the warning mark again on Sunday.
Delhi Weather Forecast: Rain to continue through the week
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more rainfall for Delhi and surrounding regions over the coming days, which may aggravate the situation.From 18 to 20 August, the city is expected to see “one or two spells of very light to light rain/thundershowers” under generally cloudy skies. Conditions may intensify from 21 August, with the possibility of “light to moderate rain/thundershowers” lasting into the weekend. Maximum temperatures are forecast to hover between 31 degrees Celsius and 35 degrees Celsius , with minimums between 22 degrees Celsius and 26 degrees Celsius .
(With inputs from PTI)
