More panic, less floods as water level constant

It was panic and mass hysteria and not the floods that swept the Capital on Saturday.

It was panic and mass hysteria and not the floods that swept the Capital on Saturday.

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Delhiites ran for cover and brought out boats even as the water level remained constant. The water level is expected to recede over the weekend.

Government shelters for flood victims were packed as people left their homes for drier abodes. Yamuna entered several parts of the Capital, including Garhi Mandu, Usmanpur Pusta, Jagatpur Village and Shastri Nagar in north east Delhi. Although there were reports of ISBT at Kashmere Gate flooding, bus services were not affected and continued smoothly throughout the day.

Rescue operations were carried out through the night in the Majnu Ka Tila area was flooded. However, senior officials assured that the situation was under control. "Everything is fine. The water level has remained constant and will go down over the weekend. There is no need to panic," said VPS Tomar, chief engineer ,Flood and Irrigation Department.

The water level remained at 206.78 metres at around 7 p.m., which is 1.95 metres above the danger mark. However, officials forecast that the level will go down by 43 centimetres in the next 24-hours and will be at 206.35 metres.

People living in East Delhi and other areas along the bank of the river remained apprehensive that the areas may be flooded as Haryana released over 640,000 cusec of water into Yamuna, which may reach the city on Sunday.

Flood water partially entered areas such as Yamuna Vihar, Usmanpur, Madanpur, Sonia Vihar, Nigambodh, Jaitpur, Tibetan Market and Yamuna Bazar.

Even though situation was in control many people living in low-lying areas along the banks of the river were seen lined up on the footpaths on ITO Bridge with their belongings.

Alert in Faridabad

The water level of Yamuna River in Faridabad is dangerously high having crossed 2.39 lack cusecs this evening. The water level is expected to rise further, the irrigation officials apprehend. The authorities have closed some government schools, where villagers were shifted as a precautionary measure. The district administration has asked army to remain stand by in Faridabad in view of flood threat. A team of National Disaster Management equipped with motor boats had already arrived in Faridabad and Palwal from Bhatinda in Punjab.