Surging Yamuna inundates low-lying areas in Delhi; thousands moved to relief camps

New Delhi, Sep 2 (PTI) Water from the surging Yamuna inundated several low-lying areas in the national capital on Tuesday, forcing residents into a last-minute scramble to gather their belongings and relocate to relief camps even as the government activated a comprehensive flood preparedness plan to safeguard citizens and critical infrastructure.

With high volumes of water being released from Wazirabad and Hathnikund barrages, the Yamuna river in Delhi crossed the evacuation mark of 206 metres for the first time this year.

The water level was recorded at 206.22 metres at 7 pm on Tuesday at Delhi's Old Railway Bridge (ORB), which was temporarily closed for traffic movement. Earlier in the day, the Yamuna reached the level of 205.68 metres -- well above the danger mark of 205.33 metres -- at 6 am.

The floodwaters inundated Yamuna Khadar submerging homes, forcing families to seek refuge in temporary relief camps established by the authorities.

Similarly, in areas such as Monastery Market near Kashmere Gate, Vasudev Ghat, and the Yamuna Bazaar, shops and residences were inundated, leaving many displaced.

According to officials, about 4,500 people have been shifted to relief camps. They said that the discharge from Hathnikund Barrage decreased to 1.42 lakh cusecs of water this morning.

"Yesterday, over three lakh cusecs of water was released but there was a decline in the release this morning. If the discharge further decreases on Wednesday, we hope that the water level will start receding," said an official.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inspected flood relief camps near the Geeta Colony Flyover and the Old Iron Bridge and also took stock of the flood situation in the city.

She assured people that there was no need to panic and the government was maintaining a round-the-clock vigil.

To mitigate the crisis, various agencies, including Public Works Department (PWD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), have implemented concrete measures.

As Yamuna is in a state of spate, scenes of hardship unfolded across affected areas.

Families waded through knee-deep currents, balancing their hard-earned belongings on their heads. Some carried bundles of clothes, others lifted wooden cupboards together, trying to save what little they could.

At Madanpur Khadar, a floodplain in southeast Delhi, farmers rushed to pull out their last harvest even as the rest of the crop was destroyed.

"We are leaving because the water level is rising every hour and the fields are submerged," said Rama Shankar, a farmer.

"My uncle worked so hard to grow the crops but everything is ruined. What else can we do now," he said.

For many, the loss is not just of crop, but of homes too.

"Water has entered the fields and our huts are also flooded. Police came to tell us to move, but no arrangements have been made for us," said a resident of Madanpur Khadar.

At Hathi Ghat near ITO, the area resembles a forest hidden within the city. Nearly 70 families continue to stay here, even as warnings grow louder.

"The other night a snake slithered over my son as he slept. I could not move until it went away," said 25-year-old Anita, a mother of two.

Another woman, Kalpana, remembered opening a trunk only to find a snake coiled inside her clothes.

For residents, the decision is not only about fear but also dignity.

"Here inside the trees, we can tie clothes and make small spaces to change clothes or bathe. On the roadside, we would be living on display," said Mehrunnisa, an agricultural worker who grows vegetables along the Yamuna bank.

Meanwhile, minister Parvesh Verma held a meeting with officials of PWD and irrigation and flood control department and district magistrates to review flood response plans.

He said the government has activated a flood preparedness plan and already positioned 58 boats, 675 life jackets and 82 mobile pumps to protect citizens as water entered several low-lying areas in the national capital.

The NDMC has taken "concrete and immediate" measures to deal with the challenges posed by the rising Yamuna level and continuous heavy rainfall in the city, Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal said.

He said the civic body has strengthened its drainage systems, intensified de-silting of drains, activated backup pumping systems and established a 24x7 control room to respond to emergencies.

According to an MCD official, during such situations, the major work is handled by the government, while the civic body ensures the cleanliness of drains and uses pumps to remove water.

"During flood-like situation, waste water levels rise so we try to clear the water flow in MCD drains. As for relief camps, we focus on maintaining cleanliness, while other departments handle the rest," the official said. PTI SSM VIT SGV SLB SHB NSM BUN 1.0.0 KVK KVK