Yamuna water level receding but still above danger mark

The water level in Yamuna started receding today even as several low-lying areas along the river in the national capital remained inundated with flood water.

The water level in Yamuna started receding today even as several low-lying areas along the river in the national capital remained inundated with flood water.

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The water level which had touched 206.78 metres at around 7 PM last evening, 1.95 metre above the danger mark of 204.83 metre, came down to 206.49 at 10 am this morning, a senior official of the Flood Control Department of the Delhi Government said.

He said the water level is likely to come down further by evening. Over 10 lakh cusec of water has been released into Yamuna from Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana in the last four days, resulting in rise in the water level in Yamuna. The rising river has flooded several parts of the capital including Garhi Mandu, Usmanpur Pusta, Jagatpur Village and Shastri Nagar.

Areas near the ISBT were also flooded, prompting thousands of people to stake shelter in government relief camps and in safer areas. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Flood Control Minister Raj Kumar Chouhan had yesterday visited several flood affected areas to take stock of the relief and rescue operations.

She ordered concerned agencies to ensure proper food, medicine, and drinking water supply to people living in the relief camps.

Dikshit had also asked people not to panic and said every possible measures is being taken to meet any eventuality.

Flood water has also entered areas like Yamuna Vihar, Usmanpur, Madanpur, Sonia Vihar, Nigambodh, Jaitpur, Tibet Market and Yamuna Bazar. Many people living in low-lying areas along the banks of the river were seen lined up on the footpaths on the ITO bridge with whatever was left of their belongings.