The level of the Yamuna reached its highest level at 1 pm on Wednesday after days of continuous rain when the level reached 207.55 meters. The previous record was 207.49 in 1978. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called an emergency meeting as the Delhi Police imposed Section 144 in flood-prone areas of the national capital. As the data shows, the level has been rising since morning.
According to data from the Central Water Management Commission, the water level at the Old Railway Bridge crossed the 207-meter mark at 4 a.m. for the first time since 2013, and rose to 207.55 meters by 1 p.m. The level is likely to rise further and the Yamuna water level is likely to reach 207.72 m by midnight, officials said.
Delhi PWD Minister Atishi said the government is fully prepared to deal with any situation. “We are conducting regular evacuations near the Jamuna river. Several embankments have been installed to prevent water ingress,” the minister said.
Yamuna breaks 1978 mark where Delhi floods: What does this mean?
In 1978, there was a flood in Delhi when 7 lakh cusecs of water was released through the Hathnikund barrage. The level of the Yamuna River at the Old Railway Bridge at that time was 204.79 meters. Citing data recently, Kejriwal said there has been no flooding in Delhi since then, although the Yamuna river has also breached the danger mark in recent years.
In 2013, 8 lakh cusecs of water was released through the Hathnikund barrage, the level of the Yamuna rose to 207.32 meters. In 2019, 8.28 lakh cusecs of water was released at Hathnikund barrage and the level of the Yamuna reached 206.6 meters.
When the Yamuna breached the 1978 mark, rescue in the low-lying areas of Delhi began on a war footing.
Kejriwal seeks Centre’s intervention
Chief Minister Kejriwal has asked the Center to intervene to ensure that the levels of the Yamuna do not rise. “Central Water Commission predicts 207.72 meter water level in Yamuna tonite. This is not good news for Delhi. There has been no rain in Delhi for the past 2 days, but the Yamuna levels are rising due to abnormally high water being released by Haryana at the Hathnikund barrage. Urge the Center to intervene and ensure that the levels in the Yamuna do not rise further,” Kejriwal said.
