With the water level of Yamuna increasing after a slight dip on Thursday night, the low-lying areas in Delhi continued to witness severe flooding. Waterlogging had submerged the areas near Rajghat, and ITO making it almost impossible to wade through for the commuters.
Taking stock of the situation in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialled Home Minister Amit Shah from France.
"PM@narendramodi ji spoke to Union Home Minister @AmitShah over the flood-like situation in parts of Delhi because of the rising water level of the Yamuna river." said the tweet from home minister's office on Thursday night.
PM @narendramodi Ji spoke to Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShah over the flood-like situation in parts of Delhi because of the rising water level of the Yamuna River.
— गृहमंत्री कार्यालय, HMO India (@HMOIndia) July 13, 2023
UHM Shah briefed him that the water level is likely to recede in the next 24 hours and is keeping a close watch…
"Shah briefed him that the water level is likely to recede in the next 24 hours and is keeping a close watch on the situation along with the Lt Governor (of) Delhi. A sufficient number of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) teams have been deployed to conduct rescue and relief operations and help the people in need," it added.
On Thursday night the Yamuna water levels stood slightly lower. According to the Delhi Flood Control Department, the water level of Yamuna was recorded at 208.42 metres at 8 am on Friday. While it was at 208.66 metres at 8 pm on Thursday night.
However, the Central Water Commission has predicted that the water level is likely to fall by noon.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted light to moderate rainfall for the next 4-5 days in Delhi.
With the water level crossing the danger mark, around 23,600 people were evacuated from areas nearby the riverbanks.
A low-lying flooded area near the swollen Yamuna river, in New Delhi | PTI
In the wake of the rising water levels, the metro trains were crossing the four Yamuna bridges with a restricted speed of 30 kmph as precautionary measure.
The Yamuna Bank Metro Station on the Blue Line has been temporarily closed due to the rising water levels.
Key areas including secretariat, which houses the offices of the chief minister as well as his cabinet colleagues, and Supreme Court were flooded.
#WATCH | Delhi: Severe waterlogging on ITO road due to rise in water level of Yamuna River pic.twitter.com/wz3ZXBA3IS
— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2023
Meanwhile, Delhi cabinet minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the government has directed the chief secretary to take up the matter of damage to the regulator and resolve the problem.
"Whole night, our teams worked to fix the damage at regulator of drain no 12 near WHO building. Still, the water of Yamuna is entering the city through this breach. The Govt has directed Chief Secretary to take it up on highest priority," he said.
Delhi CM said that this breach is causing floods of ITO and surroundings. “This breach is causing flooding of ITO and surroundings. Engineers have been working whole nite. I have directed the Chief Secretary to seek help of Army/NDRF but this shud be fixed urgently,” tweeted Arvind Kejriwal.
Kejriwal also added that he will inspect the damaged regulator of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department at Indraprastha bus stand.
With the closure of three water treatment plants--Wazirabad, Chandrawal and Okhla, drinking water shortage hit the city.
Meanwhile, schools and colleges will remain closed till July 16.
Traffic movement is affected on Vikas Marg towards ITO due to waterlogging. Commuters were advised to avoid this stretch and take route of NH 24 via Akshardham-Nizamuddin-ITO.
