Delhi On Flood Alert As Yamuna River Expected To Cross Danger Mark After Nearing 206 Metres; Advisory Issued

Delhi is now on a flood alert as the Yamuna river in the city is expected to surge to 206 metres by early Tuesday, August 19, surpassing the danger mark of 205.33 metres. The Central Water Commission (CWC) has now prompted authorities to prepare for potential evacuations and to take precautionary measures.

Fresh Flood Advisory Issued In Delhi

In a recent development, the Central Water Commission on Sunday issued a fresh flood advisory for Delhi. As per a report by India Today, the Yamuna River in the city is likely to reach 206 metres by August 19. If it does, it will surpass the danger mark of 205.33 metres, which can be quite dangerous. X user @Indian_Rivers, also posted an update showing the water level in the Yamuna. 

Around 7 pm on Sunday, the river crossed the warning level of 204.60 metres at the Old Railway Bridge. Reportedly, the warning mark for the city is 204.50 metres, while the danger mark is 205.33 metres. If it rises above that, the evacuation of people becomes necessary.

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Heavy Rainfall And Barrage Releases Behind The Surge

As per the same report, the Old Railway Bridge in Delhi serves as a key observation point to track the Yamuna River’s flow and potential flood risks. According to the advisory issued, a large quantity of water was released from Hathnikund Barrage on August 16. In addition to that, heavy rainfall in the upper Yamuna basin also resulted in the surge of the river’s water level.

An official from the Central Flood Room shared with India Today that the reason for the increase in the water level is mainly due to the high volumes of water released from the Wazirabad and Hathnikund barrages every hour. Both play a crucial role in water management and supply for different regions. Plus, water released from these barrages typically takes around 48-50 hours to reach Delhi. On Friday, the water level touched 204.65 metres at 1 pm before rising further on Saturday.

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According to the advisory, the CWC has now advised all concerned agencies to take precautionary measures to handle flood-like situations in Delhi. Residents in low-lying areas have also been advised to remain vigilant. Emergency teams have been deployed to continuously monitor the situation.

Cover Image Courtesy: @Indian_Rivers/ X