Yamuna in spate, flood threat in Agra

The threat of flood looms large in the lower reaches and along the banks of river Yamuna in this Taj Mahal city with authorities sounding a danger alert and advising people to move out as the water level was rising every hour.

The threat of flood looms large in the lower reaches and along the banks of river Yamuna in this Taj Mahal city with authorities sounding a danger alert and advising people to move out as the water level was rising every hour.

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The level was expected to touch 494 feet on Wednesday evening, according to authorities, as there had been massive discharges from upstream barrages.

"As the rain continues in Punjab and Haryana, we expect Yamuna to touch the danger mark," a Water Works official said.

Water has entered fields in Bateshwar, in Vrindavan and parts of Mathura district.

In Mathura, the Yamuna river has already touched the danger mark of 165.2 metres.

Agra is now gearing up to ensure there was no threat to life as the river would in all probability touch the low flood zone danger mark of 495 feet Wednesday.

The last devastating flood in Agra was recorded in 1978 when the river water entered an area in the Taj Mahal complex, forcing its closure for two days.