Old Yamuna Bridge closed to traffic as water level breaches danger mark

Delhi government set up a flood control room and a round-the-clock emergency operation centre to monitor the river situation

Traffic movement on Old Yamuna Bridge in Delhi was closed on Sunday with the water level in the river continuing to rise due to rains, a day after the flow breached the danger mark, officials said.

The Yamuna river swells as its water level rises near the Old Bridge, in New Delhi on Sunday, July 29, 2018. (PTI Photo)

The city government set up a flood control room and a round-the-clock emergency operation centre to monitor the river situation, they said.

An order banning movement of traffic on the bridge was issued after the flow in the Yamuna showed a rising trend, they said.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia took stock of the ongoing evacuation operation in the low-lying areas of the city and appealed to the people to move to safer areas.

The Yamuna was flowing at 205.5 metres this evening with the danger mark being 204.83 metres, the officials said.

The water level in the river had reached 205.30 metres at 7 pm yesterday, prompting authorities to evacuate people from the low-lying areas. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had held an emergency meeting with top officials to evaluate the situation.

“The government has established a flood control room in the office of the district magistrate, District (East) at L M Bund, Geeta Colony. A 24x7 emergency operation centre has also been set up for monitoring the flood situation,” a senior official said.