New Delhi: The Yamuna river in the capital has inched closer to danger levels, triggering flood alerts across Delhi. On Thursday morning, the water level at the Old
Railway Bridge, one of the city’s key monitoring points, rose to 204.88 metres, surpassing the warning mark of 204.50 metres and approaching the danger mark of 205.30 metres. Authorities are now on high alert, warning that if the Yamuna crosses 206 metres, evacuation measures will be put into effect in low-lying areas.
What’s Causing the Sudden Rise?
Officials from the central flood control room said the spike is linked to the massive water discharge from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana. “The increase in the water level is mostly due to a large volume of water being released from the Hathnikund barrage every hour,” an official said, as per a TOI report.This is the first time in the current monsoon season that the barrage’s discharge has exceeded 50,000 cusecs, peaking at 61,000 cusecs around 6 am on Thursday. Since then, 50,000 cusecs have continued to be released every hour, officials said. It typically takes 48 to 50 hours for water from Hathnikund to reach Delhi.
What Happens If the Water Crosses 206 Metres?
Currently, the danger mark for the Yamuna is 205.30 metres. Once the river reaches 206 metres, evacuation protocols are triggered. This includes shifting residents from low-lying and vulnerable areas to safer locations, setting up relief camps, and deploying rescue teams across flood-prone zones.While no immediate threat to habitation has been reported yet, authorities are closely monitoring the flow and have said that regular updates will be shared with all stakeholders.
Precautionary Steps Underway
Teams from disaster response forces, civic bodies, and district administrations have begun preparations to mitigate any possible impact. Officials have assured that measures are being taken in advance to avoid panic and ensure safety.As rainfall continues in the upper reaches of Haryana and Uttarakhand, the coming days will be crucial in determining how the situation unfolds. Residents are advised to stay updated through official channels and avoid visiting the riverbanks.
