More than 10,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas of Delhi on Monday as the water level in the Yamuna river continued to rise. At 9 am on Tuesday, the water level touched 206.03 metres, ANI reported. It is expected to reach 206.6 metres by Tuesday evening.
The last time the water level breached the 205-metre mark was in 2013, when the water level touched 207.3 metres. The danger mark is at 204.83 metres.
A total of 1,149 tents have been set up to accommodate the evacuated people, PTI reported, adding that they were being given food and medical help. Several people living in huts in low-lying areas, however, complained that they did not get any relief, according to the Hindustan Times.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Monday directed Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot to make adequate arrangements to accommodate street dwellers affected by the flooding.
The Old Yamuna Bridge has been closed since Sunday night and at least 27 trains were rescheduled on Monday morning.
Officials, however, expect the water level to recede from Wednesday. “Haryana had released 6 lakh cusecs of water from Hathni Kund barrage on Saturday,” an official from the flood control room told the Hindustan Times. “That water is expected to reach Delhi by Tuesday evening. We expect the water to start receding from Wednesday as Haryana has already reduced its water release.”
The India Meteorological Department has also said that the intensity of rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will reduce over the next few days, which could improve the situation in Delhi.
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