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Delhi weather update: Evacuation plan for residents intensifies as Yamuna River swells further on Saturday

As intense rains pounded the city's higher catchment areas, the Yamuna River in Delhi continued to run above the danger mark for a second day. As a result, the government has stepped up its evacuation efforts in low-lying areas. In Delhi today, the swelling Yamuna's flow remained above the 205.33-meter danger threshold. The flood control room reported that by 5 am, the water level had risen to 205.99 metres.

TN City Desk

Updated Aug 13, 2022, 10:22 IST

Yamuna River Swells

Photo : PTI

New Delhi: As intense rains pounded the city's higher catchment areas, the Yamuna River in Delhi continued to run above the danger mark for a second day. As a result, the government has stepped up its evacuation efforts in low-lying areas.

In Delhi today, the swelling Yamuna's flow remained above the 205.33-meter danger threshold. The flood control room reported that by 5 am, the water level had risen to 205.99 metres. According to a forecast, the water level would likely reach 206 metres about 5 pm and then stay steady after that.

Anil Banka, the East Delhi Jurisdiction Magistrate, reported that as of Friday night, some 2,300 residents had been relocated to safer areas after being evacuated from low-lying areas in his district. On Saturday, he said, there will be a strong effort for evacuation.

When the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana's Yamuna Nagar exceeds the 1 lakh-cusec threshold, a flood alarm is issued for Delhi. Then, an official said, people who live close to floodplains and in flood-prone zones are evacuated.

The flood control department gave all sector officers the go-ahead to deploy the necessary number of quick-reaction teams to warn residents living inside river embankments on Thursday. They were also instructed to keep a close eye on their respective areas and take necessary action at vulnerable points.

Thirty-four boats and mobile pumps have been deployed in low-lying areas.

"Around 37,000 people who live in Yamuna floodplains and low-lying areas in Delhi are considered vulnerable to flooding. A flood control plan has been drawn up by all departments concerned," Banka said.

People who have been evacuated from low-lying floodplain areas are being moved to permanent structures like schools and temporary structures like tents in safer areas.

At 6 am, the Hathnikund Barrage was discharging water at a pace of about 17,000 cusecs, according to the Delhi flood control room. At 1 am on Saturday, it was 1.49 lakh cusecs, and at 3 pm on Thursday, it was 2.21 lakh cusecs.

28.32 litres per second are contained in one cubic second.

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