As the Yamuna breached the danger mark again, Delhi stands risk of another spate of waterlogging and chaos. There seems no respite, as the swollen river threatens to affect the rescue and rehabilitation work, which is being progressed.
Following a surge in discharge from the Hathnikund Barrage into the river and heavy rains in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, Yamuna crossed the danger level.
The national capital was put on high alert due to the discharge of over 2 lakh cusecs of water from the Hathnikund Barrage into the river.
After reaching an all-time high of 208.66 metres on July 13, the river water level had been around the danger mark 205.33.
According to the Central Water Commission's (CWC) data, the water level rose to 205.96 metres at 9 am on Sunday. It is expected to reach 206.7 metres by 4 pm.
Meanwhile, heavy to very heavy rainfall is predicted in parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand till Tuesday.
According to the CWC data, the flow rate at the Yamunanagar-located Hathnikund Barrage crossed the 1 lakh-mark at 9 am on Saturday and oscillated between 2 lakh and 2.5 lakh cusecs between 10 am and 5 pm.
"This significant volume of water poses a risk of mid-scale floods in the capital, which is still recuperating from one of the worst flood spells it experienced in the second week of July,” Bhim Singh Rawat, associate coordinator of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People was quoted by PTI.
"The second spell of floods will likely see the Yamuna river reclaiming most of its floodplain in Delhi. Given the valuable insights gained from the last flood spell this month, city planners and policy makers must take note of the lessons learned. Citizens are counting on the swift response of authorities, expecting all the gates of the ITO barrage to be opened and fully functional. Additionally, immediate attention should be given to fix any breached sites and bunds," he said.
Amid heavy rains in the upper hill regions, the water level has been fluctuating since last week.
According to Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Department officials the heavy rains and waterlogging in low-lying areas would hamper the rehabilitation of families.
Earlier, due to severe waterlogging the water treatment plants had to be shut making it difficult for the people to get access to drinking water. Four treatment plants remained closed due to overflowing rivers.
Due to inundation of pump house in Wazirabad, the water supply in the city was hit. The pump house supplies raw water to Wazirabad, Chandrawal and Okhla treatment plants.
Delhi have been witnessing waterlogging and flooding for over two weeks.
With receiving over 125 per cent of its monthly rainfall quota, severe waterlogging occurred in the national capital on July 8 and 9.
At 208.66 metres on July 13, the Yamuna surpassed its previous record of 207.49 metres set in September 1978 by a significant margin.
Over 27,000 people were evacuated from their homes due to floods.
Experts attribute the unprecedented flooding in Delhi to encroachment on the river floodplain, extreme rainfall within a short span of time and silt accumulation that has raised the riverbed.
(With PTI inputs)
