Thousands of people have been evacuated to safer places in Delhi on Wednesday as water level in the river Yamuna reached an all-time high of 207.83 metres, flooding several areas in the national capital. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has sought the intervention of the Centre in tackling the situation while also appealing to people living in low-lying to evacuate immediately.
TV visuals showed water gushing into houses and markets near the river and waterlogging on several roads, including the busy Ring Road.
"I urge everyone living in low-lying areas to evacuate because the water level will rise suddenly and your life could be in danger," the chief minister said at a press conference.
Earlier in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Kejriwal said news of flood in the capital city will not send a good message to the world.
"The news of flood in the capital of the country will not send a good message to the world. Together we will have to save the people of Delhi from this situation," the chief minister said, noting that the national capital is set to host the G-20 Summit meeting in a few weeks.
“l requested the Centre to take steps, if possible, to release water from Hathnikund barrage in Haryana in limited speed. He pointed out that as per the Central Water Commission estimates the level of Yamuna will reach 207.72 metres on Wednesday night which is a matter of 'grave' concern,” he tweeted.
The water level has already breached its record of 207.49 metres set in 1978.
In his press conference in the evening, Kejriwal said he got a call from Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who said that Hathnikund is just a barrage and there is no reservoir to store water and limit the water speed.
"The water volume being released from Himachal Pradesh has reduced and the situation will improve. But it will take time to reflect in the water level of the Yamuna," he said.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police has imposed prohibitory orders in flood-prone areas of the city to prevent any untoward incidents.
A senior Delhi police official told ANI that the prohibitory orders have been issued fearing chaotic situation during the relocation of people affected due to the flood. The government has already evacuated thousands of people living in low lying areas to safer zones as water level in the river is rising. Around 2500 tents have been set up in 6 districts of the national capital to which people are being shifted.
"Going with present situation, two police stations located in flood-prone areas in North East Delhi have been ordered to shift to higher floors and other police stations in the vicinity have been intructed to be on alert as Yamuna River has breached the danger level and the water level continues to rise," the official said.
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority issued an advisory asking people to move to safer places and cautioning them against passing through low-lying areas. As the flood situation persisted in the Yamuna river, people should stay away from power lines and reach out to the helpline 1077 in case of any need, it said.
On Wednesday afternoon, the floodwater reached the Ring Road in several areas, including Majnu ka Tila and Kashmiri Gate. The green belt along the bank of the Yamuna was flooded.
A senior Delhi government official said the irrigation and flood control department has put sandbags to stop the floodwater from entering the Ring Road.
The water from the barrage at Yamunanagar in Haryana, around 180 kilometres from the national capital, takes two to three days to reach Delhi.
A senior official at the Central Water Commission (CWC) told PTI, "We noticed that the water released from the Hathnikund Barrage took less time to reach Delhi compared to previous years. The main reason could be encroachment and siltation. Earlier, the water would have had more space to flow. Now, it passes through a constricted cross-section."
With PTI inputs
