Yamuna flood threat looms over city again

Authorities began fanning out to localities close to expected evening the Yamuna, which is to swell by Sunday after states upstream received heavy rains, bringing back the threat of floods that threw life out of gear a little over a week ago.

- Alok KN Mishra

The rate of flow at the Hathinikund barrage rose dramatically from 38,000 cusecs on Friday to close to 250,000 cusecs on Saturday afternoon - capturing the effect of the downpours in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

An update by the Upper Yamuna Division of Central Water Commission said that it is expected for the river to breach 206m the level at which people are evacuated from low-lying neighbourhoods close to the river by 6pm on Sunday. "Thereafter water level will likely to remain steady," stated the forecast.

"The government is fully prepared to carry out immediate evacuations in these vulnerable areas. The situation has raised concerns and the government is taking proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents. CM Arvind Kejriwal and the entire government has been closely monitoring the developments and overseeing the response efforts," said revenue minister Atishi in a statement.

As on 10pm on Saturday, the river's peak level was at 205.02m, just shy of the danger mark of 205.33m. The water released from Hathnikund barrage reaches the national capital roughly 36 hours later.