New Delhi: Around 15,000 residents living by the Yamuna river were moved to makeshift tents as the river has continued to swell above the danger level since Monday. On Wednesday, it flowed above the danger mark, with the water level at Old Yamuna Bridge or Loha Pul reaching 206.60 metres at around 2 pm.
Waters began receding at late afternoon, while still flowing above the danger mark. It came down to 206.50 metres at 5 pm.
“The water level is likely to recede further as Haryana has so far not released water in large quantities from the Hathni Kund barrage,” a government official said. At 4 pm, only 10,000 cusec water had been released from the barrage.
A family of four were rescued from Zero Pusta in Usmanpur after their house was submerged.
A woman transfers her belongings to a makeshift raft in the swollen Yamuna river following release of water from Hathni Kund barrage near Nigam Bodh Ghat in New Delhi on August 20, 2019. Photo: PTI
The river breached the 205.33 metres danger mark on the night of August 19. It is expected to reach the peak value of 207.08 metres between 1 to 5 pm on Wednesday.
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Around 40 families live in the Yamuna ghats of Delhi. PTI has reported that they are in some distress following the evacuation. “We moved to tents on Monday night after river water entered our house. It is very difficult to live in the tent as it has very limited space and we are five members. Till 2 pm, we have not got anything to eat,” said Pramod Kumar (38), an auto-rickshaw driver.
“We will not move to the park where the tents have been placed as snatchers and other bad elements roam in that area. We will sleep on the terrace of our houses,” said Shubham Kumar (21), who works as a salesman.
Delhi minister Kailash Gahlot inspected relief camps at Haathi Ghat and Kanchan Colony on Tuesday and tweeted on his interactions “with people who have been evacuated and now staying in relief camps.” Gahlot said he has directed area district magistrates to ensure availability of relief materials.
Yamuna river floods a locality along its banks in New Delhi on August 20. Photo: PTI/Arun Sharma
People living in the low-lying areas along the Yamuna in the city were moved to 22,000 tents as the river breached the danger mark. In 1978, the water in the river had risen to its highest-ever level of 207.49 metres, causing a devastating flood in the national capital.
Farmers in Usmanpur, Hathi Ghat and Geetha Colony are among those worst affected by the rising waters, reported Times of India. The frequented Tibetan Monastery Market, located in low-lying area near the ISBT Terminal, has been closed. A close watch is being kept on the settlement at Majnu Ka Tilla.
The farmers of the Yamuna Khadar area have also been affected by the rising water levels.
A man looks on at the flooded Basantpur Colony after the water level of Yamuna river rose in Faridabad on August 20. Photo: PTI
“There are around 200 people who are dependent on farming here. They have lost their standing crops of green vegetables due to the rising water in Yamuna river. The farmers have lost around Rs 40 lakhs worth crops,” said Devender Kashyap (32), the community leader in Yamuna Khadar area.
On Monday, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said the water level in the river is likely to rise further with more discharge from the Hathnikund barrage in neighbouring Haryana.
Rains in the northern states claimed at least 38 lives and triggered landslides that left hundreds of people in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh stranded and several areas in Punjab, Haryana and Jammu flooded. Indian Air Force helicopters carried out dramatic rescue operations in Jammu and Karnal districts on Monday, and the administration was on alert in parts of Haryana and Punjab.
ANI has reported that a helicopter which was carrying relief material from Mori to Moldi, in Uttarkashi district had crashed. Three people were on board.
(With PTI inputs)