Drinking water supplies in the Indian capital will drop by a quarter on Thursday and Friday as three sewage treatment plants were flooded, the city’s government said, as the Yamuna river overflowed following incessant rain.
The Delhi river is at its highest level in 45 years after unusually heavy downpours in neighboring states like Haryana in the north. The city of 20 million also experienced heavy rain over the weekend with flooding in low-lying communities, forcing hundreds of people to seek shelter in relief camps.
Kejriwal said the water level in the river could peak later on Thursday and meanwhile people were evacuated from the inundated areas.”There will be water problem in some areas of Delhi,” the city’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Twitter & The most important thing is to save people’s lives. I appeal to all the people of Delhi to cooperate in all possible ways in this emergency,” he told reporters.
“Once the Yamuna water recedes, we will try to start them as soon as possible,” he said of the three water treatment plants.
North Indian states near Delhi saw record rainfall since the monsoon began on June 1, with Punjab and Himachal Pradesh recording 100% and 70% more rain than average, the India Meteorological Department said.
Delhi also recorded 112% above average rainfall, the ministry said. In the posh residential area of Civil Lines, home to some top officials, including Kejriwal, flood barriers have been erected in an attempt to block the rising river water.
